An NHS GP and television medic has issued a stark public health warning, urging people to stop dismissing severe flu symptoms and to stay home from work if they feel unwell. The plea comes as the health service grapples with what it describes as an 'unprecedented flu wave' this winter.
GP's Public Plea on Social Media
Dr Raj Arora, a well-known NHS GP and medical educator who regularly appears on ITV's This Morning, took to Instagram this week to share her concerns. She stated that the surge in cases is real and placing significant strain on hospital services across the country.
"If it feels like everyone around you is sick, you’re not imagining it," Dr Arora wrote. "Flu A cases are surging across the UK and the NHS is under serious pressure right now. It’s not 'just a bad cold'. People are getting hit harder, for longer, and hospitals are feeling it."
Her direct advice was clear: "If you’re unwell, rest properly. If symptoms are severe, get checked, and please stop brushing it off and going into work anyway. This is bigger than people think."
Understanding the Flu Surge and Official Guidance
The NHS guidance is unequivocal: individuals with a high temperature or who feel too ill to carry out their normal activities should try to stay at home. This is crucial because flu is highly infectious, easily spread through coughs and sneezes, with germs capable of surviving on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours. People are most contagious in the first five days of illness.
According to an NHS England update from December 18, the highest rates of infection are currently among children and those aged over 65. Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), emphasised specific precautions.
"If your child has any symptoms, keep them off school or nursery until 48 hours after their symptoms stop," she advised. "If you’re unwell, don’t visit hospitals and care homes to prevent spreading the infection to older and vulnerable people and don’t go to work or prepare food for others until 48 hours after your symptoms end."
Key Symptoms and When to Seek Help
Flu symptoms typically appear very quickly and can include:
- A sudden high temperature
- An aching body
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- A dry cough
- Sore throat and headache
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain, diarrhoea or vomiting
While flu often gets better on its own, with pharmacists able to offer advice on remedies, the NHS says you should seek an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if you or your child have symptoms and:
- You are 65 or over
- You are pregnant
- You have a long-term medical condition (e.g., diabetes, heart, lung, kidney, brain or nerve conditions)
- You have a weakened immune system (e.g., from chemotherapy or HIV)
- Your symptoms do not improve after 7 days
- You are worried about your baby's or child's symptoms
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you experience sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing, or start coughing up a lot of blood.
Halting the Spread
To help control the outbreak, health officials stress the importance of basic hygiene. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces are effective measures. It is noted that hand sanitiser is not sufficient against all viruses, such as norovirus, and should not be relied upon alone.
Dr Arora's central message reinforces the official stance: taking flu seriously and prioritising rest and isolation when symptomatic is a critical step in protecting both personal health and the wider capacity of the National Health Service during this challenging period.
