The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has reported that norovirus levels in hospitals across the UK are currently 80% higher than they were a year ago.

Between 13 and 19 January, an average of 784 patients were hospitalised each day due to norovirus, up from 650 in the previous week and 438 in the same period of last year.

These figures are the highest for norovirus patients admitted to hospital in any January since 2020.

NHS National Urgent and Emergency Care clinical director Julian Redhead said: “NHS hospitals have been hit by a surge in norovirus cases over the last week – with the highest level recorded in any January since 2020.

“This, along with higher than normal rates of flu and other winter viruses – and continued issues in delays in discharging patients – means hospitals remain extremely busy with patients.

“Staff are working incredibly hard to see patients as quickly as possible, and it is welcome news that flu cases have now peaked.”

While flu rates in the UK are currently down from their peak, they are nearly 2.5 times higher than a year ago, with an average of 3,833 patients hospitalised daily last week, including 176 in critical care.

The NHS also reported that 1,071 patients on average were hospitalised with Covid-19 each day last week.

Although the number of children hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) each day has decreased to an average of 29 from 51 the previous week, this represents a 91% increase from last year's figure of 15.

The ongoing pressures have led to high bed occupancy rates, with 96% of adult hospital beds currently occupied.

Despite these challenges, the NHS has seen a reduction in time lost to ambulance handovers, with 18,971 hours reported last week, down by a third from both the previous week and the same week of last year.