‘Wear a face mask’ warning to patients and visitors as flu cases rise at Princess Alexandra Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is asking all patients and visitors to wear a face mask to help control the spread of flu.
The trust provides acute services at PAH in Harlow and outpatient and diagnostic services from Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping.
In a statement, bosses warned: “There is a significant rise in influenza (flu) cases and other respiratory viruses nationally, which we are seeing at the hospital and in the local community.
“In response to this, we encourage all patients and visitors to wear a face mask when in clinical areas and waiting areas, if they are able to tolerate one.
“If patients are suspected or confirmed to have flu/respiratory infection, they should be provided with a face mask, if they are able to tolerate one.
“Please be assured that the requirement for patients to wear a face mask will never compromise their clinical care, such as when oxygen therapy is required or where it causes distress.
“This measure will prevent people from getting the flu/other respiratory viruses and from passing them on to others. It is expected to remain in place at least until the end of January, however this will be assessed on a weekly basis.”
Across the country, the number of people with flu in hospital went up sharply over Christmas and is rising “at a very concerning rate.”
Figures from NHS England show an average of 4,469 flu patients were in hospital beds in England each day last week, including 211 in critical care.
This is up 17% from 3,818 the previous week, when 184 were in critical care, and is more than four times the number on December 1, when the figure was 1,098.
It is also up sharply on the equivalent week last year, when the average was 1,312, but is lower than this point two years ago, when the figure stood at 5,441.