HEALTH bosses say they are extremely concerned at the number of people being admitted to hospital with serious complications from flu.

A surge in numbers in the past two weeks – including patients who are critically ill – has led to a fresh appeal to people most at risk to be vaccinated against flu.

The warning comes as temperatures are expected to plummet again towards the end of the week.

Dr Tricia Cresswell, deputy medical director at NHS North-East, said: “We are urging all those at risk – especially pregnant women – to get the vaccine as a matter of urgency.”

This year’s flu vaccine protects against three seasonal viruses, including the H1N1 virus, which caused the swine flu pandemic last year and which is still circulating this winter.

All expectant mothers who have not previously been protected from swine flu need to receive the free seasonal flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies.

Dr Cresswell said: “Christmas is a busy time of year, but the threat of flu is still very real.

“It is preventable, yet it continues to kill people in the region every year, so it is crucial that people who are at risk protect themselves.”

In the North-East, there are about 800,000 people at risk from flu, including health and social care staff and pregnant women.

All those aged 65 and over and people with a long-term health problem or a weakened immune system are also regarded as being at risk.

Health bosses in North Yorkshire have issued a similar appeal.

■ It is expected to turn much colder again from Thursday lunchtime and remain so for at least four or five days, forecasters say.

Matt Dobson, a forecaster with Meteo Group UK, said rain on Thursday was expected to turn to snow.

He said: “Most places will see at least some snow falling for a short time, although the worst of the snow should be in the West thanks to northwesterly winds, so any snow in the North-East may not be as heavy as it has been recently.”