Bookings for flu and Covid jabs leapt by 124% in a single day after the NHS sounded the alarm over a “tidal wave” of infections hitting hospitals.
Well being chiefs warned yesterday that the variety of individuals in hospital with flu was at a document degree for this time of yr and had elevated by 70% week-on-week.
Some 21,144 individuals scrambled to get an appointment for a free NHS jab on Thursday, up from 9,452 on Wednesday.
NHS nationwide medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis mentioned: “We’re happy to have seen bookings for flu and Covid-19 jabs surge by 124% following worrying figures revealed yesterday a few tidal wave of seasonal viruses affecting hospitals.
“The NHS has plans in place to handle further demand over the busy winter interval however a pointy enhance in flu and Covid-19 sufferers needing hospital care will trigger important challenges.
“1000’s of additional individuals got here ahead yesterday for his or her winter jabs to assist them keep wholesome, however we nonetheless want 1000’s extra to do the identical.
“With lower than per week left to guide your vaccine, I’d urge anybody eligible who hasn’t made an appointment to get one booked or threat having to spend the festive season in mattress – or, worse nonetheless, in a hospital mattress.”
The warning got here because the NHS is going through a “quad-demic” – the mixed affect of flu, Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Flu and Covid jab bookings made via the NHS App, NHS web site or the NHS’s nationwide name centre reached their highest every day complete of the month on Thursday, with a mean of 1 reserving each 4 seconds.
NHS sufferers can even guide straight with their native GP apply so the precise variety of appointments made on Thursday is prone to be considerably larger.
The nationwide reserving service will shut on the finish of the day on Thursday 19 December.
It’ll nonetheless be attainable to guide after that date via native NHS vaccination companies, like pharmacies or walk-in websites, however there will likely be fewer Covid-19 appointments, and sufferers could have to journey additional.
The UK flu season often peaks in December and January. A mean of 1,861 sufferers with flu have been in hospital day-after-day final week – up from 1,099 within the earlier week and three and a half instances larger than the identical time final yr.
The NHS can be rolling out a vaccine for RSV for the primary time in historical past, concentrating on pregnant girls and other people aged 75-79.
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NHS England has warned providers “tidal wave” of infections and is bracing for a “quad-demic” of bugs this winter, with the rise in circumstances of flu, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and anticipated will increase of Covid-19.
Well being and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, additionally urged individuals eligible at no cost vaccinations on the NHS to take them “earlier than it’s too late”.
“With A&Es dealing with report demand, we’re persevering with to encourage individuals to guard themselves, their household, and the NHS by getting vaccinated earlier than it’s too late,” he mentioned.
The figures have been printed within the newest weekly snapshot of the efficiency of hospitals in England this winter.
The report additionally exhibits 16.3 per cent of sufferers,or 14,672 sufferers, had been ready in ambulances for greater than an hour to be handed over to hospitals final week- nearly unchanged on the earlier week and better than this level in 2023 when it was 15.2 per cent.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, nationwide medical director for NHS England, mentioned: “The tidal wave of flu circumstances and different seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is admittedly regarding for sufferers and for the NHS – the figures are including to our ‘quad-demic’ worries.
“Whereas the NHS has plans in place to handle further demand over the busy winter interval, with one week left to guide your vaccine, I can’t stress sufficient the significance of getting booked in to guard your self towards critical sickness and to keep away from ‘festive flu’.”
In the meantime, figures for the NHS’ ready listing for routine therapy present the backlog had dropped to its lowest ranges for seven months in October at 7.54 million – down from 7.57 million on the finish of September.
That is the bottom determine since March 2024.
The variety of sufferers ready for remedies was unchanged month-on-month, at 6.34 million.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer offers a speech in Buckinghamshire setting out his Authorities’s “plan for change” (PA) (PA Wire)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “plan for change” pledges that by July 2029, 92 per cent of sufferers shall be seen inside 18 weeks for pre-planned care resembling hip and knee replacements
However main surgeons have known as on the Authorities to supply extra element on how the well being service in England will meet the 18-week goal for ready instances inside this Parliament amid rising winter pressures.
Professor Frank Smith, vp of the Royal Faculty of Surgeons of England, mentioned: “Winter is at all times a troublesome time for the NHS and hospital leaders are already warning this may very well be one of many worst the NHS has confronted. This may have a knock-on impact for deliberate operations.
“Whereas ready lists are decreasing, they don’t seem to be coming down quick sufficient to ensure the Authorities will meet its milestone on the 18-week goal inside this Parliament. We’d like a transparent highway map, which outlines annual targets for decreasing waits of over a yr and the full ready listing.”
There was additionally a lower within the variety of individuals ready greater than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a choice to confess to truly being admitted at 45,791 in November – down from 49,592 in October.
The report excessive for a calendar month is 54,573, which occurred in December 2022.
The quantity ready a minimum of 4 hours from the choice to confess to admission additionally fell, standing at 140,782 in November, down from 148,789 in October.
Some 72.1 per cent of sufferers in England had been seen inside 4 hours in A&Es final month, down from 73.0 per cent in October.
The NHS restoration plan set a goal of March this yr for 76 per cent of sufferers attending A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged inside 4 hours.
An additional goal of 78 per cent has been set for March 2025.
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Norovirus circumstances had been additionally up 10 per cent on the week prior, with a median of 837 sufferers in hospital beds- up 64 per cent on 2023.
NHS England has warned providers “tidal wave” of infections and a “quad-demic” of bugs this winter.
A “tidal wave” of flu infections has led to a 70% enhance in hospital admissions in England in simply seven days, the NHS has mentioned.
A median of 1,861 sufferers with flu had been in hospital on daily basis final week – up from 1,099 within the earlier week and three.5 instances increased than the identical time final yr.
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Within the late Nineties, few might have predicted that South Korea would rework into a world cultural superpower. What started as a regional fascination with Korean dramas and pop music finally developed into Hallyu—the Korean Wave—a phenomenon that now permeates worldwide tradition, know-how, media, design and past.
From the meteoric rise of Okay-Pop and Korean cinema to improvements in magnificence, hospitality, and even cars, Hallyu has grow to be a blueprint for international success. Based on the Korean Basis for Worldwide Cultural Alternate (KOFICE), the worldwide financial affect of Hallyu reached $12.3 billion in 2022, with South Korea’s cultural exports persevering with to develop 12 months on 12 months.
Hallyu: The International Attain of Korean Tradition
Over the previous twenty years, South Korea has emerged as a world cultural chief, reworking what started as a regional fascination with Korean dramas and pop music within the late Nineties right into a worldwide phenomenon. The time period Hallyu, that means “Korean Wave,” was first coined by Asian media to explain the rising reputation of South Korean leisure.
The wave initially gained momentum with tv dramas akin to Winter Sonata and Jewel within the Palace, which captivated audiences throughout Asia. Nonetheless, it quickly expanded into the worldwide dominance of Okay-Pop, led by internationally famend teams like BIGBANG and 2NE1. At this time, Okay-Pop alone contributes billions to South Korea’s financial system, with BTS producing an estimated £3.5 billion yearly, in keeping with the Hyundai Analysis Institute.
But, the affect of Hallyu extends far past music and tv. It saturates industries akin to trend, hospitality, and know-how, every infused with Korea’s modern spirit and meticulous consideration to element. The Okay-Magnificence market, for example, is projected to surpass £16 billion by 2026, whereas Korean delicacies—as soon as a distinct segment curiosity—has gained international prominence, with exports of staples like kimchi and gochujang reaching £7.5 billion in 2021.
This cultural wave has firmly established itself within the West as effectively. Establishments just like the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) in London have been instrumental in bringing Korean tradition and innovation to British audiences. By exhibitions, movie screenings, and hands-on workshops, KCCUK affords immersive experiences that foster cultural change and showcase the depth and variety of Hallyu to a rising UK viewers.
The Philosophy of Son Nim (손님): A New Definition of Luxurious
The affect of Korean innovation has additionally made its mark on the automotive {industry}. On the coronary heart of luxurious automotive model Genesis’s success, for instance, is its modern method to hospitality—the Korea philosophy of Son Nim—a time period that interprets to “honoured visitor.”
Luxurious automotive model Genesis have integrated the Korean philosophy of Son Nim—or “honoured visitor”— into their gross sales expertise (Alamy Inventory Photograph)
Whereas many luxurious manufacturers give attention to customer support as a way of making consolation, Son Nim goes past that. It’s not merely a tactic to boost buyer satisfaction; it’s a deeply ingrained cultural observe that seeks to make each particular person really feel valued, relaxed, and actually welcomed.
In Genesis’s UK studios, this philosophy shapes each side of the shopper expertise. From the second a visitor steps right into a showroom, they’re handled not as potential patrons, however as honoured guests. Each interplay is designed to create a way of belonging, immersing them in an atmosphere the place their wants and preferences aren’t simply met however anticipated and revered.
This ethos of hospitality isn’t nearly luxurious—it’s about human connection. It mirrors the heat and welcoming attitudes discovered throughout your entire Hallyu motion. Whether or not it’s the intimate storytelling of Korean dramas or the fan-centric engagement of Okay-Pop artists, Korean tradition excels at making folks really feel seen, valued, and half of a bigger group. For a lot of, partaking with Hallyu is like discovering a house away from residence—an area the place they aren’t solely welcomed however embraced.
What distinguishes Genesis on this regard is how seamlessly it integrates these values into its design and repair. This isn’t nearly offering a premium product—it’s about providing an expertise rooted in human connection. The idea of Son Nim transforms the model’s buyer interactions into one thing extra profound: a relationship constructed on belief, respect, and care, very similar to how Hallyu makes its international viewers really feel seen and valued.
Innovation Meets Custom: The Genesis Strategy
Automobiles like this Electrified GV70, are the right embodiment of conventional Korean aesthetics and the Korean precept of Jeong (Genesis)
Genesis’s design philosophy, “Athletic Class”, exemplifies the concord between innovation and custom. Automobiles just like the G80 and GV70 are a testomony to this steadiness, mixing modern, dynamic exteriors with interiors that evoke a way of calm and refinement. Impressed by conventional Korean aesthetics, the interiors characteristic pure supplies, ambient lighting, and spacious layouts designed to advertise peace and luxury.
This design ethos aligns with the Korean precept of Jeong—a deep emotional bond that emphasises connection, whether or not to folks, nature, or the areas we inhabit. In a Genesis car, this precept manifests by way of meticulous consideration to element, guaranteeing that each aspect enhances each performance and emotional well-being.
The model’s dedication to sustainability additional underscores its dedication to considerate innovation. The Electrified GV70, for instance, affords a zero-emission driving expertise with out compromising on luxurious or efficiency. This give attention to sustainability displays a broader development in Korean innovation, the place technological developments are pursued with environmental stewardship and social accountability in thoughts.
Korean Innovation Throughout Industries
The affect of South Korean tradition extends to industries from tech and hospitality to trend (Alamy Inventory Photograph)
South Korea is residence to a number of the world’s most pioneering firms, from tech giants like Samsung and LG to trend disruptors like RE;CODE, which transforms discarded supplies into high-fashion items. Even in hospitality, the ideas of Son Nim and Jeong are reshaping international requirements, with resorts and eating places adopting Korean-inspired practices that prioritise personalised service and real connection.
Within the UK, platforms like Hallyu Con additional amplify these values by curating occasions that commemorate cultural change and collaboration between Korea and the UK. These initiatives spotlight the flexibility and international enchantment of Korean tradition, underscoring why industries from trend to know-how are more and more trying to Korea for inspiration in design and buyer engagement.
This cross-industry affect demonstrates the flexibility and international enchantment of Korean tradition. It additionally underscores why main manufacturers, from trend homes to tech corporations, are more and more trying to Korea for inspiration in design, innovation, and buyer engagement.
Wave To The Future
Hallyu will proceed to affect international industries, providing classes in creativity, resilience, and the facility of connection (Alamy Inventory Photograph)
As Hallyu continues to form international tendencies, manufacturers like Genesis reveal that cultural authenticity and technological development can coexist. By drawing on Korea’s wealthy cultural heritage and pushing the boundaries of innovation, Genesis not solely redefines luxurious but additionally highlights the transformative energy of Korean philosophy on the worldwide stage.
The Korean Wave reveals no indicators of slowing down. With its distinctive mix of custom and modernity, Hallyu will proceed to affect industries worldwide, providing classes in creativity, resilience, and the facility of real connection. Genesis, as a pioneer on this motion, exemplifies how embracing these values can result in success and a reimagining of what it means to really thrive in immediately’s world.
