Visitors to the hospital who have symptoms of the Norovirus such as diarrhoea or vomiting are asked not to visit their friends or relatives staying at the hospital. In what is a particularly busy period for the hospital, staff are working hard to treat the increasing number of patients coming to the hospital and to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients contracting the Norovirus. Norovirus is a common winter vomiting bug present in the local community at this time of year.

To minimise the risk of spreading the infection to vulnerable patients, we are asking anyone with diarrhoea or vomiting symptoms not to visit the hospital until they have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours. This will reduce the risk of bugs coming in from the local community, help with the recovery of patients and mean resources can be directed towards treating the increasing number of patients coming through our doors.

Norovirus is the most frequent cause of infectious gastroenteritis in England and Wales, affecting between 600,000 and one million people each year. The typical symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea following the sudden onset of nausea. Norovirus affects people of all ages and can last from 12 hours to three days. Most people recover very quickly but immunity to the virus is short-lived and infection is easily transmitted from one person to another. It thrives in semi-closed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools and can spread rapidly from person-to-person and become difficult to contain. These infections are more serious for vulnerable hospital patients and frail elderly people in nursing homes.

There is no specific treatment for Norovirus infection apart from letting the illness run its course and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. This is particularly important for the very young and the elderly. Good hand hygiene is also crucial to limit the spread of any infection and anyone visiting wards is actively encouraged to use the alcohol rub present at the entrances when entering and leaving these areas.