THE number of people who have died from flu in the UK since September has more than doubled in a week, according to the latest figures.

The national total of 112 deaths – including 95 who had the H1N1 swine flu strain – is well above the 50 cases reported last week.

Experts believe the flu outbreak could be levelling off, but they have issued a warning to doctors after the number of cases of potentially dangerous bacterial infections such as pneumoccoccal, meningococcal and streptoccocal infections associated with flu has increased.

While there was a surge in the number of deaths across England, the number of flu patients receiving critical care in the North-East declined from 58 last week to 57.

The number of flu patients in critical care beds in Yorkshire and the Humber also fell from 68 last week to 62.

The national figure includes six children under five, nine aged five to 14, and 70 aged 15 to 64.

Of 81 cases where information was available, 63 were in risk groups for flu.

The number in critical care in England has fallen from 783 last week to 661.

The latest figures come a day after the mother of a three-year-old victim urged the Government to review its vaccination policy.

Gemma Ameen and her husband, Zana, from Birmingham, switched off life support to their daughter, Lana, two days after she caught a cold on Christmas Eve.

Mrs Ameen issued a photograph of her daughter in intensive care in a bid to reverse Government policy on who is eligible for the seasonal flu vaccine, which combats the H1N1 virus.

But the Department of Health insisted independent expert advice was clear that children who do not have risk factors should not be vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the anxious parents of one-year-old Jessica Davies, from Hartlepool, are hoping that a dose of antiviral Tamiflu medicine will help their daughter fight off swine flu.

Lindsay and Athol Davies took their daughter to their doctor three times before she was tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

Health bosses in the North-East, where hundreds of routine operations have been cancelled to make more beds available for flu patients, have repeated their appeal for people who suspect they might have flu to try to manage their symptoms at home.

Only if someone’s symptoms worsen after two or three days should the patient contact their GP.

Officials from NHS North East are desperate to ease pressure on busy accident and emergency units.

Dr Tricia Cresswell, deputy medical director at NHS North-East, urged anyone in an at-risk group who has not been vaccinated against flu to contact their GP and arrange a jab.

This group includes pregnant women, over 65s, under-65s with chronic health conditions and all frontline health and social workers.