England’s busiest A&E hit by flu wave – hundreds of patients are arriving a day

Leicester Royal Infirmary, one of England’s busiest Accident and Emergency departments, is experiencing a significant influx of patients due to an early surge in winter illnesses. The hospital is reportedly seeing hundreds of patients arrive daily, straining its resources. This increase in demand is attributed to a wave of flu and other seasonal bugs hitting the population earlier than typically observed. The BBC has visited the Leicester Royal Infirmary to observe the operational challenges and how staff are managing the heightened patient numbers. The situation highlights the pressure on the National Health Service during peak winter periods, even before the traditional holiday season. Hospital officials are working to ensure patient care is maintained despite the substantial increase in admissions.