Professor John Robertson OBA From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report published today: Influenza activity in Scotland has steadied or decreased in many systems, returning to medium activity overall based on reporting of laboratory-confirmed cases. Cases decreased by 20% to 1918 from 2410, and activity level dropped to high (from very high) in the 1-4 and 5-14 age groups. There were 912 hospital admissions due to influenza in week 50, down from 1039 in week 49.1 In NHS England: NHS England has released its latest figures now, covering last week up to 14 December. It says hospitals in England … Continue reading Scottish Government’s earlier flu vaccine launch and wider free issue has resulted in 20% fewer cases as they continue to climb in NHS England

Professor John Robertson OBA Last week Jackie Baillie was trying to tell us ‘the SNP‘ was not preparing for winter infections despite evidence that Scotland leads the rest of the UK on winter preparations with more flu vaccines delivered, more GPs, more nurses and more beds. For more, see: Yesterday, the Sunday Mail had the above based on a survey by the RCN but entirely in English hospitals – https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/Press-Releases/growing-number-of-flu-cases-threatens-to-overwhelm-an-nhs-and-workforce-already-in-crisis Flu in Scotland From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report published 27 November 2025 (Latest release): Influenza levels continued to rise in Scotland in week 47, with a sharp rise in laboratory-confirmed … Continue reading Sunday Mail makes dishonest use of an English hospitals-only survey to deceive Scots but NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing a flu crisis here

Professor John Robertson OBA From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report published 27 November 2025 (Latest release): Influenza levels continued to rise in Scotland in week 47, with a sharp rise in laboratory-confirmed cases (from 555 to 805) and hospital admissions (279 to 391), and higher test positivity (from 11.0% to 15.8%). All age groups are now affected at levels not previously seen this time of year.  https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/viral-respiratory-diseases-in-scotland-surveillance-report/viral-respiratory-diseases-in-scotland-surveillance-report-27-november-2025/ How are hospitals coping in Scotland and across the UK? However, while admissions are elevated and systems are under strain, widespread declarations of “overwhelming” (e.g., critical incidents) are more prominent in England … Continue reading Despite flu surge NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing hospitals being overwhelmed

Professor John Robertson OBA From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report, published on 20 November 2025 (Latest release): Whilst influenza activity in Scotland remains at low level overall in week 46, an increasing trend continues. This is progressively seen across all age groups, having more affected the 5-14 age group in earlier weeks. Increases in laboratory confirmed cases, from 446 to 528, and test positivity, from 9.6% to 11%, are relatively moderate in week 46 compared to week 45. Test positivity for influenza A in CARI surveillance remained stable between weeks 46 (24.2%) and 45 (24.8%) although increased in adult … Continue reading Have Scottish Government’s significantly widened access to free flu vaccine to give more than twice as many, per capita, protection from worrying new mutation, prevented a crisis?

in Scotland in the past week, up 72%. The number of patients admitted to hospital has almost doubled too according to Public Health Scotland data, Experts have been warning of an early flu seasonwith a new variant that spreads more easily and may be more severe. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland last night had the above, missing key facts on vaccine uptake and the resilience of NHS Scotland. Here they are: Scottish Government significantly widened access to free flu vaccine to give more than twice as many, per capita, protection from worrying new mutation First, availability in England – … Continue reading Scotland’s flu season starts early but with TWICE as many jags done, 30% more beds and 71% more nurses, SNP better prepared