TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ward 5 at Ninewells Hospital closed to new admissions

Ward 5 at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee is closed to new admissions due to a small number of patients who have flu.

Patients in the ward are being monitored and appropriate infection control measures are in place. To

help reduce the spread of infection, visitors are asked to avoid visiting if possible and asked to wash or gel their hands as usual. We ask that visitors who have coughs and colds which could be flu not to visit friends and relatives until they are better.

Dr Gabby Phillips, Lead Infection Control Doctor, said, “Ward 5 has been closed as a precaution and we are closely monitoring the situation.”

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740138

Notes to editors:

Flu is an infectious and common viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes that is why good hand hygiene is important.

You can catch flu – short for influenza – all year round, but it is especially common in winter, which is why it is also known as ‘seasonal flu’

Flu causes a sudden high temperature, headache and general aches and pains, tiredness and a sore throat. You can also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a cough and it can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there is usually no need to see a doctor if you have flu-like

symptoms.

The best remedy is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches.

You should see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and you:

• are aged 65 or over

• are pregnant

• have a long-term medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney

disease or a neurological disease

• have a weakened immune system

Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing people can do to protect themselves and others from getting flu. Members of the public in clinical at-risk groups are encouraged to contact their general practice to arrange to be vaccinated. Flu vaccination is easily the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family over the winter. It is not too late to call your GP to ask for the vaccine as there could be many months of the flu season to go.

The annual flu vaccine is available free on the NHS for:

• anyone over the age of 65

• pregnant women

• children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease)

• children and adults with weakened immune systems

The flu vaccine is also given as an annual nasal spray to:

• children aged two to 18 years at risk of flu

• healthy children aged two, three and four years old

For more information about the flu vaccine, talk to your GP or practice nurse.