Visitors to wards and clinical departments at Hull Royal Infirmary are being asked to wear face masks from today to protect patients from winter illnesses.

Staff in all clinical areas of the hospital will be wearing face masks after an increase in patients admitted to hospital with flu, diarrhoea and vomiting and Norovirus over the past week.

Dr Debbie Wearmouth, Infection Doctor at Hull University Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are asking visitors to wear masks in wards, clinics and clinical departments to help us protect our patients, already vulnerable through illness and injury, so they don’t catch these potentially serious illnesses.

“We’ve been seeing an increasing number of patients with bugs, currently circulating in our communities, and some of them are very seriously ill, requiring critical care.

“Wearing masks when you come to Hull Royal Infirmary, either as a visitor or to attend appointments, will help us stop these infections spreading further.”

Dr Wearmouth is also urging people who are already ill or showing signs of flu, diarrhoea and vomiting or other respiratory illnesses not to come to hospital to visit patients.

“Coming here as a visitor when you’re ill means there’s a real risk that you’ll spread the illness you have to your loved one or friend – as well as to other patients nearby. It can also mean that you’ll spread it to our staff in the ward, meaning they can’t come to work to look after your relative or friend and that puts our services under pressure.

“So, we’re asking for your help and understanding – wear a face mask if you’re coming here to visit or attend an appointment and please stay away and not visit if you’re already ill until you feel better.”

If you are unwell with sickness and diarrhoea, please stay at home and avoid close contact with others for 48 hours after your symptoms clear, wash your hands with soap and water and don’t prepare food for others.