U.K. health service battles ‘super flu’ outbreak

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a reception following the UK-EU summit, in London, Monday May 19, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)

The U.K. is facing an “unprecedented wave of super flu”, a health chief has warned, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Friday denounced “reckless” plans by doctors to launch a five-day strike next week.

“The ‘super flu’ epidemic sweeping the country means this is the NHS’s most precarious moment since the pandemic,” Starmer wrote in The Guardian daily referring to the U.K. National Health Service (NHS).

The resident doctors strikes just before Christmas “should not happen. They are reckless. They place the NHS and patients who need it in grave danger,” he added.

NHS figures published on Thursday showed flu cases at a record level for the time of year.

The number of cases jumped 55 per cent in a week to an average of 2,660 patients in hospital each day last week.

“With record demand... and an impending resident (junior) doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year,” said NHS National Medical Director Meghana Pandit.

Health minister Wes Streeting told The Times newspaper the numbers could triple before they peak and said the situation in hospitals was already “inexcusable”.

The functioning of the NHS is a major political issue in Britain, with Starmer’s beleaguered Labour government under pressure to bring down waiting times.

The planned strike from Wednesday will be the 14th walkout by medics since March 2023 if it goes ahead.

Attempts to reduce patient waiting lists have been affected in part by the repeated industrial action by both resident doctors and consultants.

‘Good deal’

The resident doctors -- those below consultant level -- are in dispute with the government over pay and a shortage of training opportunities.

Streeting has agreed to the doctors’ union’s demand that U.K.-trained medics get priority for training posts over candidates from overseas.

The number of training places will also be boosted.

“A good deal is on the table,” wrote Starmer. “My message to the doctors is simple –- take it.”

But Streeting insisted the government “cannot and will not move on pay, especially not after a 28.9-per cent pay rise over the last three years and the highest pay award across the entire public sector in the last two”.

The British Medical Association, which represents resident doctors, is demanding an extra 26 per cent it says is needed to achieve pay restoration after years of below inflation pay deals.

It is due to put the government’s new deal to members in an online survey, which will close on Monday.