Fiona Davies, the chief officer of the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP), has encouraged residents to consider whether visits to other people are essential.
The National Records of Scotland revealed on Thursday January 19 that weekly flu deaths in Scotland have reached their highest level for 20 years.
Ms Davies’s report went before a meeting of the HSCP’s integration joint board on Wednesday.
She said: 'The HSCP is continuing to face significant system pressures across both hospital and social care settings.
'There has been an increase in the levels of flu, and other respiratory illnesses, in local communities across Scotland, including in Argyll and Bute, and this has led to additional pressures on our hospitals and our social care settings during what is already a very busy time.
'We would like to remind the public to avoid visiting vulnerable people in hospitals and other health and social care settings if they have flu-like symptoms or are feeling generally under the weather.
'We are also strongly advising people to think about whether they really need to come in to visit people at this time.
'Reducing non-urgent visitor activity in confined spaces such as hospital wards will help to reduce risk to people who are ill, as well as reducing wider spread of flu in the community.
'It is also really important that you get the right care at the right place by the right health and social care professional.
'If you need urgent care that is not life-threatening then call NHS24 on 111 and they will be able to direct you to the most appropriate care, which might be a minor injuries unit, phone or virtual appointment, pharmacy or A&E.
'As always if it is an emergency then you should call 999 or go directly to A&E.'
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.