Flu hospital admissions increase by 12% in Scotland - Scotland’s Health Secretary said the NHS continues to face ‘significant’ pressures this winter.

Hospital admissions in Scotland caused by flu have increased by 12% in a week, new figures show. Public Health Scotland (PHS) has described the amount of laboratory confirmed influenza this winter as "extraordinary" - with prevalence at 52.6 per 100,000 of the population in the week up to 29 December.

Flu can lead to severe illness, hospitalisation, and even death, particularly among vulnerable groups, Public Health Scotland warned.

The number of flu hospitalisations in England is more than four times the level it was a month ago, according to NHS data. Figures from NHS England show an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week,

NHS services are facing “significant challenges” due to a rise in the number of flu patients and winter pressures. Recent NHS England data has revealed that as of December 29, 68 patients were in University Sussex Trust hospitals with the flu,

Some hospitals across the country have restricted visitors to protect patients due to the rise in people admitted with flu.

Health officials have urged people to avoid putting extra pressure on the NHS as a spell of cold weather hits the. NHS England said as of 29 December, there were 87 flu patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital along with 32 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.