Visitors on alert as hospitals brace for surge in flu cases

Urgent precautions are being put in place by NHS Lothian to help protect patients and staff against the anticipated surge in flu cases already gripping other areas of Scotland.

- by Julie Douglas

In a bid to prepare and protect, all staff are being urged to get vaccinated and to wear face masks in front door and high-risk areas, such as Intensive Care or cancer wards, in a bid to stop the spread.

While visitors will still be welcome in hospitals, NHS Lothian is also asking for help to minimise the risk of transmission between the community and hospital to protect some of the most vulnerable patients.

Relatives and friends are being asked not to visit if they have a temperature, flu-like symptoms or any vomiting or diarrhoea symptoms. They are also being asked to keep the numbers of visitors to one or two and where possible not to bring children under the age of 12 into hospital for visiting.