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Royal Stoke Hospital Faces Flu Surge, Urges Caution

12/4/2025

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Katy Thorpe Addresses Flu Surge

Royal Stoke University Hospital in England is seeing a surge in A&E attendances due to rising flu, with up to 26 ambulances queued outside and more than 160 patients waiting.
Chief Operating Officer Katy Thorpe acknowledged the wait times and urged patients to use NHS 111, GP services, and pharmacies.
The hospital is working with West Midlands Ambulance Service to improve handovers and to encourage vaccination against flu and Covid-19.

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Streeting Tackles A&E Overload

More than 200,000 patients in England visited accident and emergency (A&E) last year for minor ailments treatable by GPs or pharmacists, per NHS England.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said A&E should only handle emergencies and warned that doctor strikes and rising flu could worsen NHS pressures.
Julian Redhead, NHS England’s director of urgent and emergency care, said online and phone services are expanding to ease the A&E burden this winter.

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Katy Thorpe Addresses Flu Surge

Royal Stoke University Hospital in England is seeing a surge in A&E attendances due to rising flu, with up to 26 ambulances queued outside and more than 160 patients waiting.
Chief Operating Officer Katy Thorpe acknowledged the wait times and urged patients to use NHS 111, GP services, and pharmacies.
The hospital is working with West Midlands Ambulance Service to improve handovers and to encourage vaccination against flu and Covid-19.

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