From today (11th December 2025) patients attending hospitals in North Cumbria are being asked to wear a face mask if they have respiratory or flu like symptoms to protect vulnerable patients and to stop the spread of germs.

Rates of flu and other seasonal illnesses are increasing in the local community ahead of the festive period and so additional measures have been put in place for the next three weeks.

New measures being introduced mean:

  • If you are coming to hospital because you need to use our services and have respiratory or flu like symptoms, please wear a mask.
  • We are asking patients not to attend routine appointments if they have flu like symptoms and let us know that they plan not to attend.
  • You will see our staff working in areas that are likely to come into contact with patients with respiratory viruses wearing masks.
  • Visitors are being asked not to attend if they have any respiratory or flu like symptoms and wear a mask if they are visiting loved ones.

Our hospitals are seeing a significant increase in flu cases compared to the same time last year, and the flu season has started earlier than expected.

Over the last couple of months we have seen:

  • October 2025: 52 inpatients with flu (compared to 7 last year)
  • November 2025: 86 inpatients with flu (compared to 32 last year)

Dr Gill Findley, Executive Chief Nurse said, “Flu is circulating earlier this year, and we’re already seeing more cases than last year.  Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you so if you are eligible, please take up the flu vaccination.  Wearing a facemask is proven to reduce the risk of germs spreading and this is vital in healthcare settings. People can often have very mild flu symptoms and sometimes no symptoms at all and this means they pass germs on without being aware of it.”

Dr Findley added, “We also want to remind everyone how important it is to clean your hands.  This is one of the simplest and most important ways to stop germs spreading and we all have a part to play.

“We have lots of hand hygiene stations in place in our sites for you to clean your hands and help us keep you, our patients and your loved ones safe. We really appreciate everyone’s support over the weeks ahead to keep everyone safe.”