Hospital staff wearing masks as winter bugs rise

Islanders have been asked to only visit the hospital in an emergency

Staff caring for patients in Jersey's hospital are again wearing medical face masks due to an increase in people being admitted with respiratory illnesses, the Health Department has said.

Officials said additional beds had also been made available after a number of warnings last week for islanders to only visit the hospital in an emergency.

The Government of Jersey reinforced its message on Monday, asking islanders not to visit the emergency department if they had symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea or otherwise felt unwell.

Director of infection control Dr Ivan Muscat asked people suffering from respiratory issues to visit their GP instead of the hospital.

He said: "This is not a pandemic, it is not the beginning of a pandemic, this is winter pressures as we have had in previous winters.

"We are just trying to ensure that we respond as much as we possibly can to maintain a good service for our patients."

'Always prioritise emergencies'

In England, NHS chiefs warned the number of people with flu in hospital had quadrupled over the past month and was rising "at a very concerning rate".

A public health report found Covid-19 cases had remained low, with 18 positive tests last reported in December 2024.

A total of 65 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases were reported and were "significantly lower" compared to the last three years, it said.

It found influenza activity had increased with 42 confirmed cases "in recent weeks" - but noted the cases were "within normal activity levels".

Dr Muscat said the rise in illnesses was "typical" for this time of year.

He said: "In the health service, as in other services, you always prioritise emergencies and what needs to be dealt with immediately.

"In that sense, our response is not going to be at variance with what you'd expect."

Peter Bradley advised islanders to "get vaccinated if you can"

Director of Public Health Peter Bradley said the hospital's "biggest problem" was the flu.

He said: "We are not seeing as bigger numbers with RSV and Covid at the moment but similar cold-like symptoms can get a bit more serious though and people becoming quite unwell.

"[They are] cold-like symptoms, but they also have muscle pains and aches, fever and you can have fatigue and also some people get tummy problems with that as well."

Mr Bradley advised islanders to "get vaccinated if you can" to widen protection against viruses.

May De Malpas Finlay said a recent illness had badly affected her, even compared to previous cases of Covid

May De Malpas Finlay said she would "definitely" be getting a flu jab following a bout of bad luck in health in recent weeks.

She said although she had being ill with Covid "a couple of times already", her recent illness "takes the cake".

She said: "I have never felt so ill, physically and mentally run-down - I have had either flu or Covid with a side of tonsillitis and some type of stomach bug.

"The only thing I could keep down was flat cola and some chicken broth."

Ms De Malpas Finlay said her whole family, apart from her husband, had been affected by the illness over the Christmas period.