Patients and visitors at University Hospitals Tees sites are being asked to wear a mask to help prevent further spread of infection in certain areas.
This includes North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust hospitals, such as the University Hospital of North Tees, University Hospital of Hartlepool, and Peterlee Community Hospital.
It also includes The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, managed by the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Hilary Lloyd, chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control, said seasonal virus cases are three or four times higher than normal – and that, like all other organisations, it is currently experiencing an “extremely busy period”.
The University Hospital of North Tees (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
It comes as data from NHS England shows there were an average of 5,408 flu patients in beds in England each day last week, including 256 in critical care.
This is up 21% from 4,469 the previous week, when 211 were in critical care, and is nearly five times the number on December 1.
NHS staff across the country have even reported that they are under the same pressure as at the height of the Covid pandemic, an NHS medical director has said.
University Hospitals Tees reported more than 100 flu-related admissions per week in December, with group chief medical officer Mike Stewart this week urging people to get vaccinated as it prepares for the pattern to continue throughout January.
The James Cook University Hospital (Image: NQ ARCHIVE)
However, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the likes of Darlington Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham, and Bishop Auckland Hospital, said it does not require all staff and patients to wear masks.
A spokesperson said: “We are monitoring flu cases and other respiratory illnesses closely. Currently, we do not require all staff and patients to wear masks as a routine measure.
“However, our staff follow national infection prevention guidance, using appropriate PPE, including masks, when caring for patients with respiratory illnesses.
“We urge anyone with flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting loved ones in hospital. Additionally, we encourage anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms to consider using pharmacy services first and to only go to A&E in an emergency, if they are seriously unwell.
“The situation will continue to be reviewed daily, and we will take appropriate actions and precautions as needed to ensure the safety of our staff, patients, and the wider community.”
Meanwhile, Mr Lloyd said: “Like all other health organisations in the region, we are experiencing an extremely busy period this winter with high numbers of patients in our hospitals.
“We have also seen a rise in seasonal viruses like flu – with cases three or four times higher than they normally are at this time of year.
“Where appropriate in some clinical areas, we have been asking patients and visitors if they could wear a mask to help protect themselves as well as help prevent the further spread of infection.
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“Masks are available for use in our hospitals and should be discarded in bins provided followed by hand washing.
“This is one of a number of measures we ask staff, patients and visitors to support us with when in clinical areas. These also include regularly washing hands, being bare below the elbows where possible and not coming to hospital as a visitor if you are unwell.
“We appreciate everyone’s support in helping us to minimise the spread of viruses like the flu in our hospitals.”