The NHS experienced intense pressure this winter as almost 600,000 hospital beds were occupied by patients suffering from COVID-19, flu, RSV, and norovirus - exceeding the population of Malta. Between 25 November 2024 and 30 March 2025, hospitals across England faced what has been described as a ‘quad-demic’, with multiple viruses placing strain on services.
In the final winter update from the NHS, COVID-19 cases in hospitals reached their highest point this year, with 1,174 patients admitted last week – a rise of nearly 12% from the previous week and the most recorded since December. This increase coincides with the launch of the spring COVID vaccination campaign, targeting 7.5 million people at higher risk, including older adults, care home residents, and those with weakened immune systems.
Hospitals continue to face capacity issues, with adult bed occupancy at 94.1% and an average of over 90,000 adult inpatients per day. Additionally, more than 1.6 million hospital bed days were lost due to patients who were medically ready for discharge but remained in hospital.
Despite continued high demand, ambulance handover delays improved, with time lost down 13% compared to last year. NHS leaders and the government have praised staff for their dedication and are pushing forward plans to improve urgent and emergency care before next winter.
