HEALTH bosses are urging people not to visit Furness General Hospital if they are suffering with flu-like symptoms due to risk of infection.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is reminding people in Barrow to avoid visiting the hospital if they have the flu.

Sue Smith, Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive of UHMBT said: “If people are suffering flu-like symptoms – or diarrhoea and vomiting - and feel they need support, we urge them to contact NHS 111, or their GP by phone in the first instance to get the most appropriate treatment.

“We currently have a small number of patients in the hospital who are suffering from flu.

"These patients need to be isolated which means beds near to where they are being treated then need to be closed for new admissions.

“The flu can be an extremely unpleasant viral illness and can also be extremely serious, especially for vulnerable groups or people already ill in hospital and undergoing treatment.

“We would advise that if you think you have flu, please stay home, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and use paracetamol or ibuprofen to control your temperature and treat aches and pains.

“At this time of year flu remains highly infectious and can spread rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools and care homes.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure consistent, high standards of hand hygiene so we continue to ask everyone to please wash their hands when they enter and exit any wards.”

The injected flu vaccine is currently offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are deemed at risk.