Busy hospital sealed off by swine flu as 22 patients battle virus in intensive care
Health chiefs today closed a hospital to visitors in an effort to contain an outbreak of swine flu.
As 22 people battled the virus in intensive care across Merseyside and Cheshire, bosses banned friends and relatives from visiting wards at Arrowe Park Hospital.
A hospital spokesman said the drastic steps had been taken to ‘reduce the risk of visitors with cold and flu symptoms spreading infections to patients and staff’.
Most friends and family will be turned away from Arrowe Park, but officials will decide whether to allow visitors for patients with life-threatening illnesses on a case by case basis
The closure comes as latest figures suggested overall cases of flu had soared by 45 per cent in the last week – most of which are suspected to be the H1N1 swine flu strain.
Visitors to Arrowe Park will be turned away at the gates from 4pm today in an effort to stop the virus spreading further.
Liverpool (PCT) confirmed that 22 patients in Merseyside and Cheshire are now being treated in critical care beds swine flu, and Arrowe Park Hospital is expected to remain closed into the weekend.
At least one scheduled clinic was cancelled today and bosses said they were meeting on a daily basis to revise the situation.
The hospital stressed that patients battling life-threatening illnesses would be allowed visitors depending on their condition and that ward managers would make those decisions on a case by case basis.
At Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, connected to Arrowe Park, patients in the maternity and gynaecology wards will be allowed visits from their partners – as long as they do not have flu-like symptoms.
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Tina Long, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Hospital, said: ‘We are asking visitors to please bear with us at this time and not to come to the hospital to visit friends or family members unless they are very seriously ill.
‘This temporary suspension of visiting will help us to concentrate on looking after those patients who need to be in hospital. We will of course lift this restriction as soon as we can.’
Liverpool PCT said that it was not its policy to publish swine flu figures for individual hospitals but other hospitals in Merseyside said their visiting hours remained unchanged, despite the rise in flu cases.
Alder Hey and the Royal Liverpool Hospital are both open to visitors tomorrow and Liverpool PCT said it was unaware of any other hospitals suspending visits.
Senior GP Dr John Hussey, of Liverpool PCT said that anyone at risk should get a flu vaccination.
He added: ‘For the majority of normally health adults who catch the flu, it will be unpleasant and inconvenient, but they will begin to feel better within four to five days.
‘If symptoms are not getting better, patients should call their GP for further advice, but again they should not visit the surgery, as they risk passing on their infection to vulnerable people.
‘If you need to pick up medication, including anti-virals, ask a friend, family member or neighbour to pick them up for you.
‘People with chronic lung, heart, liver, kidney or neurological problems, as well as those with weakened immune systems, can become seriously ill, as well as over-65s and pregnant women. They should telephone their GP if they think they have flu-symptoms.
‘These people should make sure they have the flu vaccine to protect themselves.’
He added: ‘Children under five with flu like symptoms should be assessed by a health care professional.’
Those with concerns are advised to call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Christmas kisses ‘spread virus’
Christmas kisses and festive affection could be to blame for spreading the flu virus, it was claimed yesterday.
Professor John Oxford, a virologist at the University of London, said Christmas smooches and hand-shaking will have exacerbated the crisis.
A surge in the number of cases is expected as children go back to school next week, universities re-open and people return to work.
Professor Oxford said: ‘There is a lot more body contact at Christmas with people kissing and greeting each other and this all adds to spreading viruses like swine flu. This is the third wave of swine flu we have had and there is still at least two thirds of the population who have not yet been exposed to it.’
Soaring levels of both seasonal and swine flu are piling more pressure on hospitals already dealing with cases of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Professor Oxford said because two in three people did not get swine flu during the last two outbreaks in the summer of 2009 and last winter, they are at risk of getting it now.
‘Fortunately, elderly people who are normally most at risk during flu outbreaks do not seem to be affected by swine flu,’ he added.
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