Lincolnshire hospitals say they’re seeing more flu patients as NHS England warns it’s facing a “worst case scenario”.
A particularly bad strain of flu is taking up hundreds more hospital beds than usual nationally, with fears that it could hit 5,000 beds by next week, writes Local Democracy Reporter Jamie Waller.
The flu virus mutates each year, and public health experts say this year’s strain is likely to be the most contagious for some time.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described it as a challenge “unlike any since the pandemic”.
Anyone attending Lincoln or Boston hospitals is being asked to wear a face mask upon entry and in some high-risk areas.
The United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs them, says it has anticipated the rise in flu and asked patients to take sensible measures to prevent the spread.
People are also encouraged to get a flu vaccination if they’re eligible, and to only visit hospitals if necessary.
According to publicly available data, flu cases in ULHT peaked sharply around the end of November and then fell, although it doesn’t provide figures for the last week.
Caroline Landon, group chief operating officer at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals Group, said: “As expected for this time of year, we are seeing an increase in the number of patients in our hospitals with flu and other respiratory viruses in addition to an increased demand to our urgent and emergency care services.
“Flu and other respiratory viruses are factored into our winter planning and our staff are doing all they can to help reduce transmission of the virus while caring for our patients.
“Face masks have recently been reintroduced in all admission and some higher risk areas, and we continue to ask that visitors make use of the hand sanitiser and to avoid visiting our hospitals if they are feeling unwell.
“Our advice to the public is to protect yourself with the flu vaccination if you are eligible, and if you need help but it’s not a 999 emergency, use alternative services including your GP, local pharmacy or NHS 111 online or over the telephone for clinical advice, assessment and for direction to the most appropriate services for your treatment.”
