‘Don’t cancel your operations’ patients told

The ban on visitors which has been in force since Monday (January 16) is still in place, except where the patient is critically ill, but new patients are being accepted to the hospital.

Three wards are closed to new admissions but there have been no recent cases of Norovirus in the operating theatres or on the surgical wards.

A hospital spokesperson said: “The hospital is open for business and is accepting new patients but we need the continued cooperation to protect our patients from cross infection. The reason we have restricted visiting is to protect our patients who are already ill (that’s why they are in hospital) from those people who might be carrying the virus and bringing it into the hospital.”

The ban on visitors is expected to last until the end of the week.

Norovirus causes projectile vomiting and uncontrollable diarrhoea.

It is highly contagious and exists outside the hospital as well as inside the hospital.

If members of the public think they may have winter vomiting disease do not go to A&E since there is no treatment for the virus, it needs to run its course over two or three days.

The best advice is stay indoors, isolate yourself from other people and drink lots of water to keep rehydrated. If you need further advice call NHS Direct 0845 4647.