The flu definitely did something in 2017-2018 (although that was a standout year). However, that "overwhelming" was mostly dealt with by telling people to go home and take theraflu (and OTC medication). As in, literally a press at the ER/admitting, which resulted in people needing to be examined before they were turned away. And doctors/nurses had to work overtime to do that!
But the ICU beds never got overwhelmed. In hospital treatment never failed.
The response then was "if you have a flu, call your GP who will just prescribe you the medicine over the phone". The exact same situation that most non-COVID patients have been in for months.