Face masks back at hospitals as trust bids to combat increase in flu cases

Thousands of hospital staff, patients and visitors to health units in South Tyneside and Sunderland are being asked to wear a face mask and clean their hands to combat a rise in flu cases.

- by Tom Patterson

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust says it has put the new preventative measures in place until the end of January because of the flu increasing and other winter illnesses spreading in the community.

It means anyone coming to its main hospitals and other key other community sites - will need to wear a face mask and clean their hands at wash stations.

Face masks are being handed out at the door for those who turn up without one.

The buildings subject to the new rules are:

*South Tyneside District Hospital.

*Sunderland Royal Hospital.

*Sunderland Eye Infirmary.

*Palmer Community Hospital in Jarrow.

*Durham Treatment Centre

*Houghton Intermediate Care Assessment and Rehabilitation (ICAR)

*St Benedict's Hospice

*Sunderland Children's Centre