Casualty units issue flu plea

Royal Liverpool Hospital

Hospitals in Merseyside and Cheshire are asking people with flu symptoms not to attend accident and emergency units.

They say the facilities are already under severe pressure and expect the situation to worsen if the cold snap persists as forecast.

Instead, people with symptoms are advised to stay at home, drink plenty of fluids and take medication bought from their local pharmacy.

Anyone with concerns about their health should call NHS direct on 0845 4647.

The Royal Liverpool Hospital says its accident unit has been almost overwhelmed by people attending with flu symptoms and a spokeswoman urged people not to visit the accident unit as it leads to delays for other patients.

She also warned of the dangers of passing the illness on to others.

The hospital has also asked anyone who is unwell with flu to cancel any hospital outpatient appointments and not to visit friends and relatives in hospital as people who are already unwell could experience additional complications, should they also catch flu.