Masks urged at hospital amid winter illness

Visitors to Hull Royal Infirmary are being asked to wear face masks to protect patients from winter illnesses.

Staff in clinical areas will be wearing masks after an increase in patients admitted with flu, diarrhoea and vomiting, and norovirus over the past week.

Dr Debbie Wearmouth said: "We are asking visitors to wear masks in wards, clinics and clinical departments to help us protect our patients, already vulnerable through illness and injury, so they don't catch these potentially serious illnesses."

Wearmouth also urged people who were already ill or showing signs of flu, diarrhoea and vomiting, or other respiratory illnesses, not to come to hospital to visit patients.

"Coming here as a visitor when you're ill means there's a real risk that you'll spread the illness you have to your loved one or friend – as well as to other patients nearby," she said.

"It can also mean that you'll spread it to our staff in the ward, meaning they can't come to work to look after your relative or friend, and that puts our services under pressure."

The average number of patients in hospital beds in England with flu last week reached 2,924 - a rise of 9% on the previous week.

NHS England said a combination of the cold snap and winter viruses was making services "extremely busy", with hospitals reporting icy conditions had led to a rise in slips and falls, as well as people struggling with respiratory conditions.

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