The NHS has been told to brace itself for action after a steep rise in swine flu infections.
The number of new cases reported in England over the past week has nearly doubled to 53,000. In Scotland, there was a slight rise to 14,650.
It comes as more and more people are being admitted into intensive care and the number of deaths hit 128 in the UK.
Ian Dalton, head of flu planning at the NHS, said if the rises continued critical care would be expanded.
Plans have been drawn up over the last few months to double the number of intensive care beds to over 4,000.
And with the UK well into the second peak, concerns are being raised about the sustained pressure that will be put on the health service.
Mr Dalton said: “If current trends continue we are going to have to surge capacity. My message now is that the NHS must be ready.”
In England, there are 99 people in critical care beds - the highest since the pandemic began.
Read more at BBC Health.
