Inverness hospitals visitor ban will be reviewed on Monday
The suspension of visiting at Raigmore Hospital remains in place this weekend, helping to protect patients and reduce, as much as possible, the risk of flu spreading across the hospital.
Visiting has been suspended since Monday (8) due to an increase in the number of flu cases within the hospital, with evidence of flu being passed from visitor to patient.
Visitors are allowed under special circumstances but this must be discussed and agreed with the nurse in charge of the ward.
The suspension will be reviewed tomorrow (Monday).
Catherine Stokoe, head of infection control for NHS Highland, explained that with evidence of flu now spreading across the community it is important that everyone does what they can to reduce the spread across hospitals.
She said: "Flu is circulating in the community and with more cases being confirmed across hospitals and care homes it is really important that everyone plays their part in limiting the spread as much as possible.
"Visiting remains suspended at Raigmore Hospital and it is restricted in Invergordon. We are also asking that anyone visiting other hospitals across the area that it is limited to two visitors per patients, children under the age of 16 are not brought in to visit patients and anyone with flu or respiratory symptoms are advised to stay away.
"By restricting visiting to the affected areas it helps hospital staff protect the health, privacy and dignity of our patients. We are grateful for the support staff across all our hospitals in NHS Highland are receiving from the public at the moment and appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation at this time."
For people who are fit and healthy flu, although it can be very unpleasant, is something that sufferers can usually recover from at home.
But there can be complications of flu. These mostly affect people in high-risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women and those who have a long-term medical condition or weakened immune system.
The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against the spread of flu and it isn’t too late to get vaccinated.
People suffering with flu-like symptoms should cough or sneeze into tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu.
"Avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu," advises NHS Highland.
