Masks compulsory at county's hospitals as flu hits

Wearing a mask is now compulsory at hospitals across Worcestershire

Compulsory mask-wearing has been introduced at Worcestershire hospitals amid "one of the most difficult" winters ever for the trust running the sites.

Dr Jules Walton, from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the body was under increasing pressure, due in part to a rise in the number of flu patients.

Government data shows there are currently three-and-a-half times the number of people with flu in hospitals across the UK compared to this time last year.

Speaking to BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on Friday, Dr Walton said hospitals across Worcestershire were experiencing pressures on their emergency departments and on in-patients bed numbers.

The trust runs Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, and Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre.

"We are busy," Dr Walton said. "We all know winter is always the busiest time for the NHS but this winter has already been one of the most difficult we faced.

"It's due to a number of factors - we've seen a rise in flu cases across Worcestershire and that will obviously have an impact on the hospitals.

"But just generally winter also does bring a high number of seriously ill patients."

Stephen Collman, managing director at the trust, said: "We currently have more than 100 patients with flu in our hospitals.

"To protect our patients, visitors, and staff, we have reintroduced mask-wearing across our sites, including all clinical areas, public areas such as restaurants and all offices."

Concerns have been voiced about the national picture ahead of a cold snap, which is expected to bring snow and sub-zero temperatures to much of the UK.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dr Adrian Boyle, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the national picture was "unacceptably awful".

He said there was "an enormous amount of avoidable harm - excess deaths that shouldn't be happening".

He told the BBC: "Flu is the straw that is breaking the camel's back because we have this chronic lack of beds within our hospitals and we don't use those beds properly because we haven't reformed social care."

There are more than 100 people in hospitals across Worcestershire with flu,