EVERY ward
has been closed at WarwickHospital following an
outbreak of winter sickness bug norovirus.
Malins Ward
and Squire Ward were the first to be closed last week to all visitors because
of the vomiting and diarrhoea virus. But now health chiefs have taken the
decision to close all wards to visitors.
At the last
count, WarwickHospital confirmed 50 patients across
six wards were suffering from the nasty bug. Twelve staff were also suffering
with norovirus.
The only
visits allowed to any ward will be assessed on compassionate grounds. These
should be discussed with the ward manager.
The
restrictions will continue until further notice.
Glen Burley,
chief executive of South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust, stressed
that the restrictions were part of the normal response to such outbreaks.
He said they
would help to stop the infection spreading and protect other patients, visitors
and staff.
He added:
“We have plans in place to deal with outbreaks of this kind and we would ask
for the support and understanding of patients and visitors.”
Dr Stephen
Mather, the hospital director responsible for infection control issues, said:
“We also urge anyone with any diarrhoea or vomiting symptoms to stay away from
the hospital and remain away for 48 hours after their symptoms disappear.”
The illness
is not normally serious but can have a debilitating effect on people who are
already poorly or recovering from illness.
Outbreaks of
the illness are common, particularly within contained environments such as
hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
This is
because the norovirus spreads very easily from person to person and it can
survive for several days in a contaminated area.
Coventry News 
