Winter

This monthly publication will feature a compilation of NHS England's weekly sitreps throughout the winter period. We will monitor key activity and demand figures across the NHS, analysing key trends to better understand the pressure facing trusts this winter. The data referred to here is the most recent release: for week commencing 2 February 2026. This is referred to as the first week in February. 

Note – University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust did not submit bed data for the 1st-3rd February 2026 due to a major incident. This will affect bed numbers reported this week. 

Viruses and absences

Viruses

• On average, there were 1,119 patients in hospital with flu each day last week (G&A and CC flu beds). The week before, this figure was 1,491. Last year, this figure was 2,039. This is shown in Figure 5.
  
  
• On average, there were 1,162 adult beds closed due to patients in hospital with D&V/norovirus-like symptoms last week. The week before, this figure was 1,093. Last year, this figure was 1,104.
  
  
• On average, there were 25 paediatric beds closed due to patients in hospital with RSV last week. The week before, this figure was 48. Last year, this figure was 17. 
  
  
• On average, there were 583 beds occupied by covid-19 patients per day last week. The week before, this figure was 630. Last year, this figure was 952.  
  
  
• On average, there were 2,891 beds closed/occupied for covid-19, flu, D&V (adult and pediatric) and pediatric RSV last week. The week before, this figure was 3,264. Last year, this figure was 4,125. 

Figure 5
Average daily number of beds (general and acute and critical care) occupied by flu patients

Staff sickness

• On average, there were 51,454 members of staff absent per day last week, due to sickness or self-isolation. The week before, this figure was 51,588. Last year, this figure was 50,954.   

Beds and occupancy

• On average, there were 96,449 adult G&A beds open last week. The week before, this figure was 97,254. Last year, this figure was 97,373. 
  
  
• On average, 95.6% of adult G&A beds were occupied last week. The week before, this figure was 95.8%. Last year, this figure was 95.5%.
  
  
• On average, there were 6,078 paediatric G&A beds open last week. The week before, this figure was 6,111. Last year, this figure was 6,137.
• On average, 73.0% of paediatric G&A beds were occupied last week. The week before, this figure was 73.4%. Last year, this figure was 72.6%.
  
  
• On average last week, there were 3,129 escalation beds open in total. The week before, this figure was 3,274. Last year, this figure was 3,185 beds in total.
  
  
• On average last week, there were 4,060 adult CC beds open, and 81.8% were occupied. The week before, there were 4,097 adult CC beds open and 81.3% were occupied. Last year, there were 4,108 adult CC beds open, and 80.1% were occupied.
  
  
• On average last week, there were 368 paediatric intensive care beds open, and 76.1% were occupied. The week before, there were 383 paediatric IC beds open, and 74.4% were occupied. Last year, there were 373 paediatric intensive care beds open, and 80.4% were occupied.

Access and flow

Delayed discharge

• On average, 13,660 beds each day were filled with patients no longer meeting the criteria to reside in hospital last week. The week before, this figure was 13,714. Last year, this figure was 14,087. 

Ambulance

• On average, ambulances made 14,018 handovers a day last week. The week before, this figure was 13,991. Last year, this figure was 13,448.   
  
  
• 28.0% of ambulance handover delays took longer than 30 minutes. The week before, this figure was 29.3%. Last year, this figure was 27.8%.
  
  
• 8.6% of handover delays were longer than an hour. The week before, this figure was 9.4%. Last year, this figure was 9.0%.