Over half of people entering University Hospital Waterford aren’t sanitising their hands.

434 people, including patients, visitors and staff, were observed by WLR entering the hospital’s main entrance during a one hour period yesterday afternoon.

188 used the alcohol gel provided while 246 didn’t – that’s 56 per cent who didn’t observe good hand hygiene during an outbreak of flu.

Visiting restrictions remain in place at UHW and elective in-patient surgeries have been cancelled to prevent the spread of flu.