DOCTORS and nurses at Basingstoke hospital are bracing themselves for the flu and Covid 'twindemic' this winter.

The news comes after health bosses have reportedly warned that more than half of hospital beds could be taken up by people suffering from respiratory infections.

Experts have been talking about a 'twindemic' with a simultaneous surge in Covid and flu cases. The worry is that winter waves of Covid would coincide with the regular flu season and that the combination could pose a threat to health systems.  

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Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) is responsible for running three hospitals across Hampshire - Basingstoke, Andover and Hampshire.

A spokesperson from HHFT said: “We have seen an increase in the number of Covid patients requiring our care in recent weeks and whilst these numbers are beginning to reduce, we know there is a long winter ahead.

“The prevalence of other viruses such as flu are expected to increase, and we’re asking our local community to consider the ways in which they can protect themselves, including getting the Covid and flu vaccines.

“We are continuing to ensure our services are as prepared as possible for this particularly busy period and are working closely with our partners. The community can play their part in helping their local NHS by using the right service at the right time to reduce the pressures faced by our emergency departments."

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that Covid will still present a major challenge for the NHS, but said low levels of residual immunity to flu in the general population were concerning in what could be one of the more difficult winters for the health service.

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As a result, the government is urging all 30 million people eligible for flu and Covid vaccines to get jabbed.

HHFT also confirmed to the Gazette that as of October 26 its three hospitals had 130 Covid patients in its care, and 63 of these were in Basingstoke.