Pensioners are worst hit in the flu outbreak hitting the region, with new figures showing the most serious outbreak of bronchitis for 15 years.

The north is the worst hit region in the country, as statistics from the flu monitoring service in Birmingham show a massive 259 cases per 100,000, compared to 171 the previous week. The national average is 203 cases per 100,000.

Today a spokesman for the monitoring service blamed the increased pressure on NHS services on the high rate of acute bronchitis in the over-65s.

But Bradford Hospital NHS Trust remains one of only four trusts in Yorkshire not to have cancelled urgent and non-urgent surgery because of flu. Neighbouring Airedale has cancelled 38 operations since the Millennium period.

BRI chest consultant Dr Duncan Newton said Bradford's success was down to good planning, not because the district had escaped the outbreak.

He said: "One of the important things the trust did was to get the staff flu jabs in October, which is the right time. Seventy per cent of our clinical staff have been immunised. Other hospitals are doing the same now but it's too late. We're also grateful to the citizens of Bradford who have had such good sense in staying at home. If you're normally fit and healthy you should stay away from hospital as you're more likely to catch flu there than anywhere."

He added that emergency plans to free beds over the holiday period had helped to ease patient admissions.

BRI Bed Facilitator Ann Bannister said she had admitted on average 20 patients fewer a day over the Christmas period than the same time last year.

She said: "We had over 40 admissions a day during the Christmas and New Year's Eve period which is about double the amount we normally have."

But non-urgent surgery was still being cancelled yesterday at Airedale General Hospital, including some hip replacement operations.

Figures still stop short of an official epidemic, which is 400 cases per 100,000 people. Bradford GP and local Liberal Democrat health spokesman Dr Alun Griffiths dismissed talk of an epidemic as Government spin.

"The figures clearly show we are well short of an epidemic and yet Government spokesmen and Labour spin doctors persist in using the term," he said.

lHas your operation been cancelled because of the flu crisis, or have you been left facing a long wait in hospital? Contact the news desk with your story on 01274 729511.

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