Flu outbreak has peaked in Highlands
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The flu crisis that hit hospitals in Inverness and across the Highlands appears to have peaked.
In the period December 29 until January 29 there were 217 cases of flu diagnosed in acute hospitals across the Highlands leading to the closure of several wards.
However infection control lead officer Heidi May told members of NHS Highland Board this week that there were now very few cases of flu and no wards were closed as a result of the outbreak.
She also recorded her thanks to nursing staff for the enoromous amount of work they did to keep during things running during the outbreak, especially ensuring that beds were available for patients.
"We now have no wards closed and very few cases of flu," she added.
The worst outbreak in recent years forced Raigmore Hospital’s stroke unit to ban visitors at Christmas and more than 60 surgeries at the city hospital had to be cancelled in early January.
Wards at the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness, Invergordon Community Hospital and Mackinnon Hospital on Skye were also closed but have all now re-opened.
There are still patients suffering from flu at Raigmore but this is being managed without the need for ward closures.
