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Help us to prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses, to keep our patients safe

Flu is a highly infectious and very common viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes. It is not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses. Symptoms tend to be more severe and last for longer. You can catch flu (short for influenza), all year round, but it is especially common in winter months in the UK.

Symptoms of flu include:

  • Fever (38 degrees C)
  • Shortness of breath or cough
  • Headache
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • Aching limbs
  • Lack of appetite
  • Vomiting and/ or diarrhoea

If you have a fever and any two of the above symptoms do not visit the hospital.
 

People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms. They can continue to spread the virus in coughs and sneezes, for between five and seven days. People become less infectious as their symptoms subside and once symptoms are gone, they are no longer considered infectious to others. If you had a transplant and/or receive chemotherapy or other immunosuppression you might be excreting the virus for longer

  • The very elderly
  • Those with long-term lung, kidney, neurological, liver or heart disease;
  • Children under five and people over 65   Those with diabetes mellitus
  • People with weaken immune systems as a result of a disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or medication (such as steroids, chemotherapy)
  • Patients with chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases
  • Pregnant women

Contact your GP/pharmacy for your annual vaccine (flu jab) if this is the case.
 

  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue
  • Disposing of used tissues promptly and carefully
  • Washing hands frequently with soap and warm water or alcohol gel to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, the environment or to other people
     

  • Limit contact with others
  • Contact your GP/local pharmacist for treatment advice and they can recommended flu remedies.
  • If you are acutely unwell and/or are feeling worse despite advice from your GP and/or NHS 111 and need to come to A&E please report your symptoms at reception.
     

  • If you are coming for a routine outpatient appointment, please reschedule your appointment date if possible so appropriate isolation measures can be made
  • If you are attending for day care treatment, please call the department in advance to inform them you have flulike symptoms so appropriate measures can be taken.
  •  If you are due to be admitted to hospital and have symptoms of flu or any other illness please call the number on your admission letter or the ward where you are being admitted so that appropriate measures can be taken
     

Department of Health website - https://www.gov.uk/

UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) - https://www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/uk-health-security-agency
 

Help us prevent the spread of flu

  • If you have a fever or flu like symptoms do not visit our hospitals
  • Relatives and friends should not visit if they are unwell especially if they have any flu like symptoms.
  • Inpatients who know they have relatives or friends coming to visit are asked to remind them of this precaution before they arrive.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing
  • Wash your hands regularly
     

Services

Printing of this document is only valid on the day printed, please refer to the website for most up to date information:

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-pages/flu-information-patients-and-visitors

Service information

Page last updated: 16 October 2024

Review due: 30 September 2025