Visiting restrictions - update 5 January 2012
Poole Hospital has amended the hospital-wide restrictions on visiting that have been in place since 29 December.
The restriction on all visitors was introduced as a preventative and proactive step in response to rising cases of norovirus in the community, and has been effective in limiting the spread of the highly infectious illness at the hospital.
Hospitals are particularly susceptible to norovirus because of the large number of people attending each day. Increasing levels of the illness, which can easily spread from person to person, are being seen in the local community.
From today, the Trust is permitting limited visiting: two people - family or next of kin only - once a day, preferably in the afternoon, will be allowed per patient. It is important to stress that this remains at the discretion of the nurse or midwife in charge, and only by prior arrangement.
The amended measures will continue to help the hospital to minimise any spread of the illness and support the effective delivery of health services the public expects.
Mary Sherry, chief operating officer at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said limitations on visiting were still required.
"We regret that visiting restrictions remain in place as we continue to proactively protect our vulnerable patients and our ability to provide the services we offer for the good of all our patients.
"I do understand that it may be frustrating for those who wish to drop-in on friends and family in hospital but we need to balance that desire with a need to safeguard patients, and our staff, from this illness.
"The restrictions in place to date have been effective in containing any spread of the illness, and I would like to thank the public for their support and the understanding they have shown."
Outpatient clinics, day case and diagnostic services at the hospital 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.
Dr Adrian Dawson, director of public health for Bournemouth and Poole, said: "We know that norovirus is still in our community and while unpleasant to have, it can have far-reaching repercussions when introduced to environments such as hospitals.
"We would continue to urge anyone who has had symptoms of this bug, for example vomiting or diarrhoea, not to visit relatives in hospitals, nursing homes, or residential care homes, and keep away from others as far as possible until symptom-free for 48 hours."
Date: 5 January 2012