Norovirus cases confirmed at Warrington Hospital

A NUMBER of cases of norovirus – the sickness and diarrhoea bug – have been confirmed at Warrington Hospital and as a result restrictions have been placed on visiting.
But hospital chiefs are stressing the cases do not amount to an outbreak.
A spokesp;erson said: “There has been an increase in the number of patients experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting (D&V) on some of the wards at Warrington Hospital prompting the Trust to bring in the following temporary restrictions to visiting arrangements:
1. School aged children should not be brought into the hospital
2. Always observe hand hygiene procedures – liberal use of hand sanitising gel prior to entering wards and use of warm water and soap for hand washing before leaving patient areas
3. DO NOT sit on a patient’s bed or chair please use the visitors’ chairs provided
4. DO NOT be afraid to ask staff if they have washed or cleaned their hands
5. DO NOT come to the Emergency Department directly with D&V, we cannot treat this in A&E and you risk spreading further infection to already sick patients.”
The hospital stresses that people should never visit the hospital to see a patient if they are experiencing any signs of D&V or had any symptoms in the past 72 hours.
Symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea can be best treated by staying at home, drinking plenty of fluids and getting some rest. Advice is available from local high-street pharmacists, on line from NHS Choices www.nhs.uk and from the 111 phone service.
The spokesperson added: “Please use alternative methods of contact to speak to your relative or friend if they are in hospital, such as the hospital’s bedside telephone system. If you really can’t postpone your visit please contact the ward for advice prior to coming to the hospital. Only two visitors per bed will be permitted.”