NHS Highland takes safety precautions amid rising flu cases

NHS Highland has asked people visiting its hospitals to wear face masks due to rising levels of flu.

The health board said its staff would also be wearing masks as a protective measure while working in hospitals or out in the community.

NHS Highland said it was taking extra precautions to protect patients and keep essential services running when they were most needed.

It said masks would be made available to hospital visitors on arrival.

NHS Highland has urged people to only visit its health care sites in the Highlands and Argyll and Bute if they have no symptoms.

The health board's advice comes amid rising cases across Scotland, and a warning from pharmacies that private stocks of flu vaccines are running low.

Lab-confirmed cases rose by 24% to 2,331 cases, from 1-7 December, compared with 1,875 the previous week.

Hospital admissions for flu increased by 15% from 860 to 986, according to the latest figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS), external.

Those eligible for a vaccine can access jabs from the NHS, but Community Pharmacy Scotland said people have been paying for the vaccine at pharmacies for convenience.