There were 961 patients a day in hospital with norovirus last week, up 7% on the week before and 69% higher than the same period last year (570 for the week ending 4 February 2024).

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘Hospitals are continuing to treat hundreds of patients who are ill with the highly infectious and unpleasant norovirus bug, with the rate of cases at the highest level recorded for this time of year since 2020.

‘The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full – even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand.'

There was an average of 98,101 patients in hospital each day for the week – higher than at any point so far this winter. Around 96% of adult hospital beds were occupied, also a record for this winter.

Almost one in seven beds (13,776) were taken up by patients who did not need to be in hospital and were well enough to be discharged – another high for this winter.

Flu rates have dropped since last month's peak, but more than 2,462 patients were still hospitalised with the illness on average each day last week, including 122 in critical care.

Other winter viruses are also continuing to circulate with almost 1,000 patients on average (952) in hospital with Covid every day last week, a slight decrease on the previous seven days (995); while 18 children on average were in hospital with RSV each day – a decrease from the previous week (28).

NHS England said a range of improvements, including hospitals delivering more same day surgeries and the slashing of agency staff costs by £500m to a record low, had delivered 2.4% growth in acute productivity in the first seven months of the financial year. Staff delivered a 6.3% increase in acute activity, while spending adjusted for growth increased by 3.9%. NHS services have also managed to make a further £5.7bn of savings this year through reduced staffing costs.

Interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said: ‘In the face of all of these challenges, new analysis showing a boost in productivity is testament to the hard work and determination of NHS staff.'