Opinion: Be Prepared: Weston must wake up to a severe flu threat now

by Paul Howe

Across the South West, the NHS is facing a sharp and accelerating rise in flu cases at a point in the winter when pressure is already high. Regional data shows hospital admissions linked to influenza have increased steeply in recent weeks, with far more hospital beds occupied by flu patients than at the same stage last winter. This surge is already placing strain on hospitals serving Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire — including those that support Weston-super-Mare.

But the warning signs are not confined to hospitals.

They are already being felt daily in our schools — and the consequences extend well beyond the classroom.

Schools across the area are experiencing significant staff absences due to illness. Teachers, teaching assistants and support staff are off sick, often in clusters, forcing schools into constant short-term contingency planning. In many cases, schools are only just managing to stay fully operational, juggling cover internally or reshuffling classes simply to maintain safe supervision and continuity of learning.

Where internal cover is not possible, schools are forced to turn to supply agencies. This comes at a substantial cost. Agency supply staff are expensive, and schools have little choice but to pay those rates when absences mount. For many schools — already operating under intense financial pressure — this is unsustainable. Budgets are not designed to absorb repeated waves of agency fees caused by widespread illness, yet schools cannot simply close classrooms or send children home.

This financial strain matters. Every pound spent on emergency supply cover is a pound diverted away from learning resources, pastoral support, special educational needs provision, or wider wellbeing initiatives. The flu surge is therefore not only a public health issue; it is a budgetary one, with real consequences for educational quality and stability.

Schools are often the first place where seasonal illness takes hold. Children mix closely, viruses spread rapidly, and infections are carried back into households — affecting parents, carers and vulnerable family members. When schools struggle, the ripple effects move quickly through the community, increasing pressure on GP practices, pharmacies and, ultimately, hospitals.

A particularly troubling factor is vaccine uptake. Despite the availability of the nasal flu vaccine for children, many parents continue to withhold consent. Teachers and school leaders see the impact first-hand: repeated cycles of illness moving through classrooms, prolonging outbreaks and increasing staff absence. This is not about assigning blame; it is about acknowledging that low uptake weakens community protection and leaves schools and families more exposed.

Nationally, NHS leaders have warned that England is entering one of the most difficult early winter periods in recent memory. Flu admissions have risen sharply week-on-week, and hospital bed usage linked to influenza is significantly higher than last year. In some parts of the country, NHS trusts have declared critical incidents — a measure used only when services are under extreme strain.

Locally, dozens of hospital beds across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are currently occupied by flu patients. NHS leaders have urged residents to think carefully before attending hospital with mild symptoms and to use pharmacies, GP services and NHS 111 where appropriate. These appeals reflect genuine operational pressure, not precautionary messaging.

Weston General Hospital plays a crucial role within this wider system. The expansion of Same Day Emergency Care allows more patients to be assessed and treated without admission, helping to preserve bed capacity during winter surges. However, no hospital can remain insulated when community transmission is high — particularly when schools act as an early pressure point.

The situation is further complicated by ongoing NHS workforce pressures and planned junior doctor strike action later this month. Even where emergency care is protected, reduced flexibility increases risk during peak demand. The system does not need to fail outright for patients to feel the impact; longer waits and reduced resilience are enough.

Flu is often dismissed as routine, yet for older people, vulnerable children and those with underlying conditions, it can be dangerous. Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools available. It reduces severity, lowers hospital admissions, and helps protect schools, hospitals and frontline services alike.

This is why preparedness matters. Encouraging vaccination, staying home when ill, and using health services responsibly are not minor acts — they are practical steps that reduce disruption across education and healthcare.

Weston-super-Mare has faced winter pressures before, and the dedication of NHS and school staff is not in question. But resilience has limits. The current flu surge is real, visible in schools as well as hospitals, and already testing systems that have little slack left.

The message is not panic, but responsibility. The warning signs are already here. Acting now could prevent far greater disruption in the weeks ahead.