City hospital urges mask wearing amid flu surge

Bradford Royal Infirmary visitors have been urged to wear face masks due to "high levels" of flu cases in the hospital.

The NHS was seeing an early wave of flu and respiratory illness on a local and a national level, according to the hospital, with many patients with severe symptoms being admitted.

"To protect patients, visitors and staff we have decided to introduce the wearing of face masks in high-risk clinical areas," a Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said.

The trust said staff would also be wearing masks, with face coverings for visitors "available on wards and clinical areas".

Visitors were also reminded about the importance of having the flu jab and were advised to follow "good hand hygiene practices".

Latest NHS figures show an average of 1,717 patients across the country were in a hospital bed every day last week because of flu.

Bosses are warning there is no sign of cases peaking yet, despite 17m flu jabs being delivered.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.