ARROWE Park Hospital bosses are urging visitors to consider vulnerable patients by not removing hand sanitizer from waiting areas or wards.

The appeal comes after bottles of hand gel disappeared from public areas and wards across Arrowe Park Hospital.

Dr Nicola Stevenson, medical director at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: "It is important that we are able to protect our vulnerable patients as well as our visitors and staff by ensuring they are able to keep their hands clean.

"Removing hand gels from wards and public areas potentially places people at risk.

"While we understand people are really keen to keep their hands clean, we would ask people to please ensure this does not impact on patients who are vulnerable and in need of hospital care.

"People are advised that the best way to protect against COVID-19 (coronavirus) is to wash hands regularly with soap and water."

More advice on hand hygiene and how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/