Poole Hospital introduces Trust-wide visiting restrictions
Ward visiting at Poole Hospital has been suspended as a temporary and precautionary measure following an increase in cases of norovirus in the community.
This is an extension of current visiting restrictions in place on two wards following confirmation of norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, among some patients.
This measure will help the hospital to minimise any spread of the illness and support the effective delivery of health services the public expect from us. While norovirus does not pose a serious risk of ill health to many, the step will help the hospital to protect our vulnerable patients, as well as ensuring our staff are available for duty.
Non-essential ward visits will only be permitted at the discretion of the nurse or midwife in charge – if you are planning to visit someone at Poole Hospital, or if you are a patient’s only next of kin and they may feel anxious about your absence, please contact the ward by telephone before doing so.
Hospitals are particularly susceptible to norovirus because of the large number of people attending to either visit, work or receive treatment each day. Increasing levels of the illness, which can easily spread from person to person, are being seen in the local community.
Outpatient clinics, day case and diagnostic services are unaffected – however, patients due for an appointment who have had, or been near someone, with diarrhoea or vomiting in the last three days should contact the hospital as soon as possible to discuss their appointment.
“We have seen a recent increase in the number of reported cases of norovirus in the community, as is typical in winter,” said Dr Simon Hill, director of infection, prevention and control at the hospital.
“We are taking this proactive and responsible action to ensure that our services can operate as smoothly as possible by minimising the impact this illness can cause, and ask the public for their support and understanding of our reasons in taking this step.”
“We believe this restriction on visiting is in the best interests of all our patients - we’re closely monitoring the situation and hope to be able to remove these restrictions as soon as possible.”
Dr David Philips is director of public health for NHS Bournemouth and Poole and NHS Dorset Cluster. He added: “Norovirus is a gastric bug which is wide-spread throughout the community and easily transmitted from one person to another.
“It is important that people with symptoms of these gastric bugs, for example vomiting and diarrhoea, should not visit friends or relatives in hospitals, nursing or residential care homes, and stay away from other people as far as possible until they are symptom free.
“By doing this, everyone in the local community – especially the sick – have the best chance of getting back to normal as soon as possible.”
The public can stay up-to-date with visiting arrangements at Poole Hospital via this website or by contacting our switchboard on (01202) 665511
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
If people have symptoms, you are advised to stay away from work, school or college until symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
Visit http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Norovirus/ for more information on norovirus.
Date: 29 December 2011