Weston Area Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, is permitting visiting only between 6.30-7.30pm daily, and only two visitors will be allowed per bed, with no change of visitors during a single visiting session.
Also, all visitors will be required to wash or gel their hands when they enter a ward, wear a plastic apron during their visit and wash their hands again when they remove it to go home.
The General Hospital currently has restricted access to four wards where patients are suffering from the illness, which enters the hospital from the community.
These visiting hours will remain in place from today (Tuesday) until further notice.
Exceptions to these rules may be authorised by the ward sister or the nurse in charge in extraordinary circumstances. People with queries should telephone the ward on which their relative is a patient for advice.
Visitors of patients receiving palliative care are, of course, exempt from these restrictions.
Chris Bryant, Director of Hospital Services, at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, said: “We understand that people want to visit family and friends in hospital, but we are asking visitors to be patient while we have restrictions in place.
“We do everything we can to prevent and control infection and these restrictions are necessary for us to continue to provide patients with the best possible care.”
“This action will help in a number of ways. Firstly, it will help us reduce infections. We can make sure our wards are spotlessly clean as the fewer people there are on a ward, the more thorough our cleaning staff can be.
“Secondly, the reduced number of people coming onto the wards means there is less risk of visitors accidently bringing infections, such as diarrhoea and/or vomiting, into the hospital.
“Shorter visiting times will also ensure that patients get more time to rest, which is vitally important for recovery after surgery or illness, and means they will be able to return to their own homes more quickly.”
The vomiting bug affects the whole community, including schools, care homes and local businesses, because it spreads easily where people mix.
Chris said: “Hospital wards are never closed, but it makes sense to restrict new admissions or limit visiting to minimise the risk of spreading, as we are doing at present.
“Earlier in the year we set out a few simple guidelines for visitors to follow which can help us, as well as their loved ones at this time, and which are extremely appropriate at the present time.”
Please help protect your friends and relatives as follows:
For further information, contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091