Hospital visitors urged to wear masks to slow flu

People needing hospital treatment in parts of Cumbria are being asked to wear a face mask if they have symptoms of flu or other respiratory illnesses.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC), which runs Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary and Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital among other sites, says the measure aims to "protect vulnerable patients" by reducing the spread of germs.

Anyone with symptoms who is scheduled for a routine appointment is asked to rearrange it.

The appeal comes as experts predict it could be a particularly nasty flu season because of a new mutated version of the virus which is circulating.

NCIC said it had seen a "significant increase" in flu cases, with 138 inpatients being treated across October and November compared with 39 during the same months last year.

Other measures the organisation has put in place for the coming weeks include staff wearing masks in areas where they are likely to come into contact with patients with respiratory viruses.

People visiting family members with the illness are also being asked to wear masks.

Dr Gill Findley, executive chief nurse, said a face covering "is proven to reduce the risk of germs spreading and this is vital in healthcare settings".

She added: "We also want to remind everyone how important it is to clean your hands. 

"This is one of the simplest and most important ways to stop germs spreading.

"We have lots of hand hygiene stations in place in our sites for you to clean your hands and help us keep you, our patients and your loved ones safe."

Dr Findley stressed vaccination remained the most-effective method of protection and urged anyone eligible for a free jab to get one.

The NHS offers a free flu vaccine to people who need it most, external, including:

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

A nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is also offered to children aged two to three years as well as school-aged children (reception to Year 11).

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Everyone else has to buy one.

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external.