Flu: An NHS nightmare

The impact on the health service
The NHS was stretched to breaking point by last year's flu outbreak.

• Blair admits: people are suffering
  
• Flu 'the worst for a decade'
  
• Thousands of operations cancelled
  
• NHS chief calls for more cash
• Death highlights a service in crisis
• Struggling to cope: one hospital's story
  
• Nurse shortage has increased pressure
  
• Flu: Planning for the big one

Around the UK
Last year's flu bug hit communities hard around the nation, particularly in some parts of Scotland where infection levels did reach epidemic proportions.

• Welsh hospitals inundated
• Flu claims Welsh rugby star
• Scots minister denies flu 'crisis' claim
• Flu lessons must be learned, says Scottish health chief
• Scots health minister under fire
• Scots author dies of flu
• NI hospitals treat patients in chairs
  

Diagnosis, treatment and vaccines
Flu is a debilitating condition, and can, in severe cases, be life-threatening. Doctors advise, however, that most flu patients should take an off-the-shelf remedy and go to bed.