The Royal Bournemouth Hospital has closed a ward and a bay due to the sickness and diarrhoea virus norovirus.
Winter is the season for norovirus which spreads where people are grouped in a close environment, such as hospitals and schools.
Ward 9 of the hospital is currently closed. Next of kin who do want to visit in exceptional circumstances should ring in advance to discuss with the ward sister or charge nurse on the ward. Visiting on all other open wards is restricted to next of kin only.
The Trust is working hard to reduce the spread of the virus to avoid disruption to patient care. Paula Shobbrook, Director of Nursing, said: “While we regret the inconvenience and upset that restrictions on visiting can cause friends and relatives, this is absolutely essential to ensure the virus does not spread to other parts of our hospitals.
“The safety of our patients is paramount and the cooperation of members of the public in helping this is appreciated.
“We are following all national guidelines and staff are working extremely hard to ensure no further spread of the sickness and diarrhoea virus.
“We review the situation regularly and we will re-open the wards as soon as it is safe to do so and when they have been thoroughly cleaned, as part of the ongoing deep cleaning programme.”
The advice to all visitors to the hospital is:
- only visit if it is essential
- please wash your hands with soap and water before visiting wards and use the hand gel provided
- DO NOT visit hospital at all if you, or any members of your household, have had any kind of sickness and/or diarrhoea in the past 48 hours – even if you think it may be food poisoning. You should be symptom free for 48 hours before coming in
- if you are due to come into hospital for an elective (planned) procedure or operation and have been unwell with any kind of sickness and or diarrhoea please ring the hospital to let us know before you come in
