The health service in Morecambe Bay is encouraging people to have their flu jab if they haven’t already to protect themselves and their families.
Dr Geoff Jolliffe, Barrow GP and Clinical Chair of Morecambe Bay CCG, said: “Flu can be unpleasant, but if you are otherwise healthy it will usually clear up on its own within a week.
“However, it can be more severe in certain people such as children, those with long-term health conditions and pregnant women and would advise that, if you fall into one of these groups you contact your GP practice to arrange to have a Flu Jab. It’s not too late.”
You should have the flu vaccine if you:
- Are 65 years of age or over
- Are pregnant
- Have certain medical conditions
- Are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- Receive a carer’s allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
- Are a frontline health and social care workers. It is your employer’s responsibility to arrange and pay for this vaccine
Those of at higher risk can receive a flu vaccination through their GP practice, local pharmacy, or employer if they work in the NHS. Please make sure you have taken up the opportunity to be vaccinated this year.
Flu is not a “bad cold”. Colds and flu share some of the same symptoms (cough, sore throat), but are caused by different viruses. Flu can be much more serious than a cold https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/coldsandflu/Pages/Isitacoldorflu.aspx.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is currently seeing a rise in the amount of patients who are suffering with flu like symptoms.
As a result the Trust is asking the public to only attend its Emergency Departments or visit loved ones in hospital if they have to after several patients at Furness General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary tested positive for flu.
Sue Smith, Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive, at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), said: “I’d like to remind all visitors, members of the public and staff that at this time of year, flu remains highly infectious and can spread rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools and care homes.
“Any visitors, members of the public or UHMBT staff who may be feeling unwell, or may have been in contact with a person, with flu like symptoms in recent days, should stay away from our hospitals.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure consistent, high standards of hand hygiene so we continue to ask everyone to please wash their hands when they enter and exit any wards”.