Hospital staff, patients and visitors are being asked to wear face masks to help limit the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

The University Hospital of Hartlepool and University Hospital of North Tees have made the decision to introduce face masks in some of their clinical areas as flu cases locally and nationally continue to rise.

The number of people in hospital with the flu in England is at a record high for this time of the year according to new NHS figures.

There were an average of 38 flu patients per day at the North Tees and Hartlepool Trust in the week ending December 7 compared to 26 the previous week.

Staff members in certain hospital departments across Hartlepool and Teesside have been told they must wear a face mask to help limit the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

placeholder image — Staff members in certain hospital departments across Hartlepool and Teesside have been told they must wear a face mask to help limit the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

Nine areas across the University Hospital of Hartlepool and the University Hospital of North Tees have imposed mandatory mask wearing for staff, and are encouraging patients and visitors to do the same.

Emma Nunez, chief nursing officer for umbrella organiastion University Hospitals Tees, said: “In order to protect those most vulnerable in our hospitals and to keep our staff fit and healthy, we have made the decision to introduce face masks in some of our clinical areas.

"We will be reviewing this decision regularly as we continue to monitor flu cases across our region.

“If asked by a member of staff, please wear a face mask to protect yourself and those around you when you are visiting our hospital sites.”

Staff in the urgent treatment centre and rheumatology outpatients at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, and those in the emergency department, emergency assessment unit, urgent treatment centre, respiratory wards 24 and 25, haematology ward 38 and the rheumatology unit at the University Hospital of North Tees will all be wearing masks.

Patients and visitors are also asked to wear masks in these ares “when able to”.

Emma added: "Please also make use of the handwashing and hand sanitiser facilities provided upon entry to our wards.

“If you haven’t already been vaccinated against flu, don’t delay any further. The flu jab is safe, effective and is the best protection against becoming seriously ill this winter.”

For more information and to book a flu jab, see https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/.