Visitors with cold and flu symptoms are being asked to stay away from Southport and Ormskirk hospitals unless absolutely necessary to prevent their spread.

Andrew Chalmers, Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control, said: “There are a number of visitors who I’ve seen visiting their relatives over the weekend who seemed particularly poorly themselves with coughs, colds and even flu-like symptoms. So, unless it is absolutely necessary, please stay home and get well before you visit.

“Please bear with us at these challenging times. Our main priority is to contain the flu virus and to protect all our patients and ensure they fully recover as soon as possible so they can return home to their family and friends.”

Andrew advised people with a suspected flu virus, or family members suffering from one, to visit the NHS Choices website for information.

People across Merseyside and West Lancashire are being reminded of the simple message to protect themselves and others from cold and flu this winter:

Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.

CATCH IT – Always carry tissues and use them to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

BIN IT – Dispose of used tissues as soon as possible.

KILL IT – Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitiser following coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

The most up to date and comprehensive national information about flu is here.

Better than going into A&E and then possibly giving everyone else their bugs.Just stay at home,plenty of fluids,a couple of Paracetamol,and keep warm.Stay away from everyone for a few days until the fever recedes,stay off work if you can do.

A & E for a cold or flu, *******!!

There are not enough taxpayers earning enough money in this country to satisfy the needs of the NHS as we would like to see it. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a fraud.