Combined, the Norfolk and Norwich, James Paget and Queen Elizabeth hospitals were seeing an average of 135 each day in the first week of 2025.

When compared with the final week of 2024, they saw a 45pc increase in daily cases - up from a combined 93 patients a day.

The statistics, published by NHS England, show the challenges the spread is posing to staff, with some workers comparing the pressure to the height of the Covid pandemic.........

© Norwich Evening News