There were over 1,000 patients in hospital with norovirus each day this week for the first time this winter, according to NHSE England.

NHS national medical director, Dr Claire Fuller, said: ‘It's vital that we do all we can to avoid a second surge in norovirus at a time when the NHS remains flat out coping with winter pressures.'

Having briefly stabilised in the first of week of February, figures rose for the second week in a row, up by 929 (8.9%) on the previous week.

The average number of norovirus patients in hospitals per day rose by more than 2.5 times from the start to the end of January (from 361 to 950).

The average daily number of adult hospital beds closed due to norovirus symptoms this week (1,257) is also up more than 8% (8.2%) on last week (1,162) – and has risen by over 190% on the first full week of January (432).

This comes as hospitals continue to deal with high levels of demand, with almost 3,000 (2,837) more ambulance handovers with known handover times compared with the same week last year.

Despite this, teams continued to handover patients on average more quickly than last year (32:03 vs 32:23).

Rory Deighton, acute and community care director speaking on behalf of NHS Providers and the NHS Confederation, said: ‘Winter pressures on the NHS are relentless and services remain severely stretched.

‘Bed occupancy is worryingly high and ambulance teams are working flat out.

‘Yet despite exceptional demand, overall handover times from ambulances into hospitals have improved on last year.

‘The uptick in norovirus is a real concern. Everyone can play their part in curbing the spike in cases by taking sensible hygiene precautions.'