Stay away from hospital, visitors told, as flu closes six wards

SIX wards at Wales’ biggest hospital have been affected by a flu outbreak – and visitors are being urged to stay away.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff is currently treating patients for the virus.

It has also confirmed that two wards at University Hospital Llandough are dealing with outbreaks.

The wards affected at UHW include A2 emergency surgery admissions, A5 head and neck, B4 haematology, B5 nephrology and B6 trauma and orthopaedics and T5 nephrology transplant.

Eluned Boaler, a ward manager on the emergency surgery ward at UHW, said: “We are working hard to meet the demand, but it’s a vicious circle.

“Many visitors are inadvertently bringing the virus onto our wards, which can add further complications to patients who are already very ill.”

The health board is now discouraging visitors from entering the wards until further notice.

Ms Boaler added: “We have to make visitors aware that flu is on our wards and that we don’t recommend bringing children or elderly people to visit.

“If you’re in hospital for long periods, this can be a difficult time for patients.

“But many of our patients are already very unwell so it’s important that we don’t expose them to any outside infections.”

The flu vaccine is the best available protection against flu and the health board continues to encourage uptake among “at-risk” groups in the community.

These include pregnant women and those with serious long-term health conditions such as asthma and diabetes.