It would hit the sickest, most vulnerable patients, who tend to be the highest users of home care.

"Anyone at the hospital could have been watching for vulnerable patients," he said.

Most years by this time, doctors would be almost finished inoculating the elderly and other vulnerable patients against the flu.

This is especially the case in vulnerable patients, such as patients in the intensive care unit.

In 2012, it was reported that Savile had sexually abused vulnerable patients at the hospitals.

Emergency stocks released amid concerns vulnerable patients are being left exposed to the virus.

The problem is rare among England's handful of private hospitals, although those facilities seldom see the most vulnerable patients.

Some expressed concern, saying that vulnerable patients were being coerced through the lure of medical care to put their bodies on the line.

"The devastating effect these postings would have on vulnerable patients is incalculable," she added.

There is a need, for instance, in hospitals, to protect the food of some very vulnerable patients from dangerous bacteria.