Face masks reintroduced in some of region's hospitals as staff battle influx of flu patients

ITV Granada Reports correspondent Tim Scott reports on the emergency action

Face masks have made a return in some hospitals once again the number of reported flu cases rises sevenfold.

The Royal Bolton Hospital has reintroduced the precautionary measures meaning all staff, patients and visitors must now wear surgical face masks in inpatient areas.

The hospital is currently caring for 42 patients with seasonal flu, up from just six in December.

At Manchester Royal Infirmary, visitors, patients and staff are encouraged to wear a mask as soon as they arrive.

It comes as the region faces a 'tidal wave' of Covid-19, flu, RSV and norovirus cases, known as the quad-demic.

The NHS has warned it could be seeing its worst ever winter flu season as cases continue to soar, with Greater Manchester recording almost three times the number of people in hospital with flu compared to January 2024.

"Royal Bolton Hospital is introducing face masks in patient areas to prevent the spread of viruses and infection," said a spokesperson for the hospital.

"The hospital has seen a high number of flu cases in recent weeks, with 42 patients in the hospital with flu on Thursday 2 January, up from an average of seven in September.

"To address this, all staff, patients and visitors are being asked to wear fluid repellent surgical face masks in inpatient areas from Monday 6 January.

"Supplies of face masks are available throughout the hospital site."

Nicola Kirlew, a respiratory illness ward manager, says the measure has had a positive reaction from those visiting the hospital.

"For us it's business as usual, but for our patients and relatives it's trying to reinforce those extra measures in terms of keeping everybody safe," she said.

"We've found that we've had a very supportive population, whenever we have visitors and relatives coming in they want to take the necessary precautions as well to ensure they're keeping not just their relatives and loved ones safe but themselves as well, and the staff who are here to look after their loved ones."

Alison Lewis, who visits her mother on the ward, says she is fully behind the new mask wearing measures.

She said: "I'm completely fine with it, especially on this kind of ward, it's to protect the vulnerable really and make them feel safe.

"That's what you've got to do isn't it?"

Francis Andrews, the Medical Director at the Royal Bolton Hospital said the measure hopes to combat the dramatic rise in flu cases seen across the hospital.

"Face masks are very effective at preventing the spread of droplets that might carry flu," he said. "Flu is the more important issue here.

"We do have a small number of Covid cases and norovirus cases and RSV but that's relatively controlled, but it's the number of cases of flu that has risen substantially as in other parts of England."

The temporary measure will remain under review until the peak of flu infections reduce in the coming weeks, the hospital said.