Health services in Somerset are struggling amid a 'double whammy' of rising Covid-19 and flu cases, with health bosses encouraging people to get vaccinated if they are eligible.

They have also put a renewed call out for anyone yet to receive a Covid vaccine to come forward.

NHS Somerset has revealed that since the beginning of December, its hospital trusts have seen a threefold increase in people in hospital with Covid and a fivefold increase in flu for the same period.

New data shows there were 3,746 patients a day in hospital with flu last week, up from 520 a month ago. Of those in hospital last week, 267 were in critical care beds.

As viruses re-circulate after a hiatus during the pandemic the NHS has continued to see hospital cases grow week on week, up almost 80% in seven days

This time last year, there were only 34 patients in hospital with flu, two of whom were in in critical care.

NHS staff have also been impacted by the spread of viruses this winter, with Covid absences each day up almost half on last month, from 5,448 to 8,029.

The total number of staff off sick is up a fifth on the end of November, from 52,556 to 63,296 a day.

Bed occupancy remains particularly high, with more than nine in 10 beds filled (over 93%) compared to 86% for the same period last year.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: "Sadly, these latest flu numbers show our fears of a 'twindemic' have been realised, with cases up seven fold in just a month and the continued impact of Covid hitting staff hard, with related absences up almost 50% on the end of November.

"As well as flu, the NHS continues to be under significant pressure, with high bed occupancy, more than 12,000 beds taken up by patients medically fit for discharge, and demand for the 111 service remaining high, so please do make the most of 111 online, and only call 999 or visit A&E in an emergency.

"It is clear this is no time to be complacent and the risk of serious illness is very real, so with nearly 350,000 available vaccination appointments next week it is important that everyone eligible comes forward and gets their Covid and flu jabs at the earliest opportunity."

Covid vaccinations can be booked online or by finding a walk-in clinic. Flu jabs are widely available on the NHS for free for many people. It is also possible to pay for a vaccination at a number of pharmacies.