Weston General Hospital is taking measures to protect its patients and other vulnerable people, such as the elderly and children, and help manage the outbreak of norovirus in the North Somerset community, which is having an impact on the hospital.
From today, Wednesday 20 November 2019, the hospital is temporarily changing its daily visiting times to 14:30-15:30 and 18.30 -19.30 and asks that visiting is limited to one visitor per bed.
Dr Peter Collins, Medical Director at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, said: “We’re urging the public to help us keep their loved ones safe from norovirus. We fully understand that families and friends want to visit loved ones. We need to put these actions in place to reduce the numbers of visitors to our wards, and prevent people unknowingly carrying this infection into the hospital where it can easily be transmitted to patients who are already very poorly.”
Otherwise known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, norovirus is highly infectious and easily passed from person to person and has unpleasant effects of sickness and diarrhoea. The hospital is asking anyone thinking of visiting the hospital to think NORO:
N No visits to hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries if you are suffering from symptoms of Norovirus - send someone else to visit loved ones until you are better
O Once you’ve been symptom-free for at least 48 hours, you’re safe to return to work, school or visit hospitals and care home
R Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet, and before eating or preparing food
O Only hand-washing will prevent spread of Norovirus - alcohol hand gels DON’T kill the virus
Members of the public who may have questions or concerns about the changes to the visiting times are advised to contact a member of staff in the relevant ward or department, who will be happy to help.