Hospital wards close due to a norovirus outbreak as bosses urge ...

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Hospital wards across Wales are being shut to the public following an outbreak of flu and the winter vomiting bug norovirus, health boards have confirmed.

Anyone suffering from the norovirus is being urged to stay away from hospital to avoid making the problems worse.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board says it is managing a significant number of cases of diarrhoea, vomiting and influenza in the region.

Eleven wards affected

Nine wards at the University Hospital of Wales and two at University Hospital Llandough are currently affected by the outbreak.

A spokesman for the health board said two wards are currently closed to new admissions but are expected to reopen on Thursday.

Only a maximum of two family members will be allowed to see patients at both hospital sites.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg UHB said wards have also been shut at both the Princess of Wales and Morriston Hospitals in recent weeks due to the outbreak.

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University Hospital Llandough

Dr Eleri Davies, the director for infection prevention and control at Cardiff and the Vale, said that while norovirus is in general an unpleasant 48 hour illness for most, it can be more serious for those already in hospital.

She said: We are now seeing diarrhoea and vomiting infections in the community, with some infections also confirmed in the hospitals, this inevitably leads to some instances of ward closures.

It is very difficult to stop the spread of norovirus once it is in hospital so we are asking the public to help support us by restricting visiting to what is absolutely necessary.

If you are visiting friends or family in hospital then please heed the advice at the entrances to wards and practice good hand hygiene.

Avoid accident and emergency

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg UHB said wards have also been shut at both the Princess of Wales and Morriston Hospitals in recent weeks due to the outbreak.

A spokeswoman urged anyone who has suffered from sickness or diarrhoea not to visit patients in hospitals for at least two days.

Wales Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruth Hussey is urging people to seek advice from the NHS Direct Wales telephone service about managing norovirus or to contact their pharmacist or GP about flu-like symptoms instead of visiting accident and emergency departments.

Emergency departments and the Welsh Ambulance Service say they continue to experience significant peaks in demand attendances have peaked at 25% higher than the average daily number so far this year.

Dr Hussey said: GPs across Wales have seen a growing number of people with the winter vomiting bug or flu-like symptoms as well as an increase in respiratory conditions following the recent cold snap.

This has created an increased demand for urgent GP appointments and may have made it difficult to book planned appointments.

Hospital staff are reporting an increase in norovirus and flu on wards. We are asking people not to visit friends or relatives in hospital if they have experienced any sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, just like flu, and some hospital patients could be particularly vulnerable.

Advice and information is available through NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, in pharmacies and through the Choose Pharmacy minor ailments scheme which includes prescriptions for certain conditions.

Use a different NHS service

There has been an increase in the number of Norovirus cases in Wales, but public health officials say that it is to be expected at this time of the year.

People across Wales are being urged to choose well by using the right NHS service for their needs.

These include:

• Self care taking care of yourself if you have conditions such as a cough, sore throat, grazed knee, other minor issues

• GP or out of hours services for vomiting, ear pain/hearing loss, painful cough, symptoms that wont go away

• Community pharmacists for diarrhoea, runny nose, upset stomach, headache

• Opticians problems with eyes

• Minor Injury units for cuts, sprains, bites, minor illnesses or injuries

• Emergency departments chocking, chest pain, blacking out, blood loss, serious, life-threatening injury, suspected stroke

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales said: Norovirus typically causes vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes a fever, headache and aching limbs.

It usually improves within two days without requiring any treatment, and anyone who has had vomiting or diarrhoea should not return to work or school for 48 hours after their last symptoms.

Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/hospital-wards-close-due-norovirus-11016067