Hospitals fight norovirus outbreaks

By [pmann]

HEALTH chiefs are keeping visiting restrictions in place at three Cornish hospitals in a bid to conquer an outbreak of the norovirus.

Visitors are being asked to stay away from the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, and St Michael's Hospital at Hayle unless they are planning to see critically ill patients.

There are currently six wards closed or partially closed at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and one ward partially closed at West Cornwall Hospital because of the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Joint director for infection prevention and control and nurse consultant Louise Dickinson said: "We are continuing to see new cases of norovirus, some in patients already in hospital but also a fair number in patients requiring emergency admission to hospital for other reasons.

"It is proving difficult to break the cycle and the activity we are seeing in our hospitals is generally mirroring what is happening out in the wider population."

Surgery and outpatient appointments are going ahead as planned, although non-urgent surgery is being reviewed on a day-by-day basis.

However, any patients who are unwell themselves, or have been in contact with someone who has been unwell, should first telephone for advice before travelling to a hospital.

Outbreaks of the airborne virus are not uncommon at this time of year.

Health officials say it is essential that patients or visitors who have been unwell with symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting do not visit a hospital until at least 48 hours after symptoms have gone.

In most circumstances, norovirus, while unpleasant, can be managed at home or in residential care settings, with symptoms usually passing within 48 hours.

There is no specific treatment for norovirus, apart from letting the condition run its course.