According to figures from NHS England, there were more patients in hospitals last week than at any other point so far this winter.
A continuing rise in norovirus cases is a contributing factor.
Last week, 961 patients a day were in hospital with norovirus, an increase of 7 per cent on the week before and 69 per cent higher than the same period last year.
There was an average of 98,101 patients in hospital each day last week, which is higher than any point so far this winter.
Around 96 per cent of hospital beds were occupied which is also a record for this winter.
Around 1 in 7 beds were occupied by patients who were well enough to be discharged, which is again a record for this winter.
Positively, flu rates have dropped since the peak of last month, but there was still an average of 2,462 hospitalised flu patients each day last week, with 122 of those in critical care.
There was an average of 952 people in hospital with Covid each day last week, along with 18 children with RSV.
New data is set to be presented at NHS England’s board meeting this afternoon shows NHS acute productivity has grown by 2.4 per cent in the first 7 months of this financial year.
NHS staff have delivered a 6.3 per cent increase in acute activity this financial year, while spending adjusted for growth increased by just 3.9 per cent.
The boost has been driven by a series of improvements, including hospitals delivering more same day surgeries, and the cutting of agency staff costs by £500 million to its lowest ever level.
There has also been £5.7 billion of savings through reduced staffing costs.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: “Hospitals are continuing to treat hundreds of patients who are ill with the highly infectious and unpleasant norovirus bug, with the rate of cases at the highest level recorded for this time of year since 2020.
“The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full – even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand.
“While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, it’s vital people continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “The broken NHS this government inherited has led to patients and staff facing unacceptable conditions in hospitals up and down the country this winter.
“It will take time to fix the NHS, but with investment and proper reform, we can make our health service fit for the future and make sure that annual winter pressures do not automatically lead to an annual winter crisis.
“We’ve taken important steps to reduce pressures this year – including ensuring doctors are on the frontline and not the picket line – and over the coming years, our Plan for Change will deliver the necessary reforms to improve urgent and emergency care services, and reduce waiting times.”
