Hospital visits restricted after rise in flu cases

A trust is restricting visiting at its hospitals after a rise in flu cases.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said the rules had come into force at Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and community hospitals across the county.

Visiting will only be allowed in maternity, paediatric and end of life wards and in "certain critical cases".

North Tees and Hartlepool and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts have also reported a surge in norovirus and flu cases.

Matron Nicola Forbes, of the Cumbria trust, said the situation was being "reviewed regularly" and restrictions would be lifted when it was safe to do so.

"Our priority is to keep our patients and staff safe, and the best way to do that is by limiting the number of people on our wards," she said.

"We understand how difficult it is for people to not be able to visit their loved ones when they are in hospital.

"But we're seeing a steady increase in cases of flu culminating in about 85 over the weekend across Whitehaven and Cumberland Infirmary."

The trust is also reminding people that accident and emergency departments are for serious cases only and to use alternatives including pharmacists and the NHS 111 service.

Follow BBC Cumbria and BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].