Severe Norovirus Outbreak at Weston General Hospital

The three wards closed are Uphill, Kewstoke and the Stroke Unit. Specific wards with any current outbreaks are clearly indicated by banner signs.

Otherwise known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, Norovirus is highly infectious and easily passed from person to person. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea.

Director of Nursing and Infection Control Lead at the Hospital, Chris Perry, said:

“Norovirus is extremely infectious and is bought into the hospital from the community. So people coming into the hospital carrying the bug can easily transmit it to our patients. This is why we are urging people only to come here if their visit is absolutely essential. We have also put a number of firm restrictions in place.”

Firm restrictions are currently in place. These include:

• Only people who have an essential visit (people with appointments or needing emergency care) should come to the hospital.
• Only the same two visitors are allowed to see a patient in any one session.
• Children under 12 will not be allowed to visit without the express permission of the nurse in charge.
• Do not come to the hospital if you are feeling unwell with sickness, diarrhoea, fever, sore throat or flu in the last 48 hours.
• While in the hospital maintain good hand hygiene. Clean hands with alcohol hand rub or soap and water before entering the ward to reduce bringing infections into the hospital.

Visiting hours remain the same: 2:30pm-4:30pm and 6pm-8:30pm.

Alongside visitor restrictions, stringent processes are in place for hospital staff. Access to wards with Norovirus is restricted to all but essential clinical and healthcare staff such as physiotherapists and dieticians. Gloves and aprons are worn when examining patients and strict hand washing protocols are in place.