A HOSPITAL has set up a containment ward to tackle a severe flu outbreak.

York Hospital’s Ward 23 has been dedicated to looking after patients diagnosed with the virus after the city recorded some of the highest rates of flu in the country.

It is the first time such a move has been made since the Swine Flu pandemic in 2009.

Dr Damian Mawer, a consultant microbiologist and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's infection control doctor, said: "We all had a warning that it was going to be a bad flu season with the situation in Australia, so we did plan for it and have had a good response with the staff vaccination programme.

"The ward has worked really well and we have contained the patients in one area so they get the best care."

He wants to see improvements made to the next flu vaccine to cut down on the number of people catching the virus.

"There has been concern about the flu vaccine and it needs to be more effective, so let's hope that next year's is a bit better,” added Dr Mawer.