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Poorly visitors asked to
stay away from Hospital
VISITORS to hospital are being asked to
stay away if they are ill with vomiting, diarrhoea or flu like symptoms.
An outbreak of norovirus, a winter vomiting bug, has temporarily closed Ward 10b,
at Southport and Formby District General Hospital to new admissions.
The Trust has also seen a sharp increase in patients admitted with flu in
January.
Andrew Chalmers, Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control, said:-
"Both norovirus and flu are highly infectious. Medical complications from flu
can be particularly serious for vulnerable people such as those with long term
medical conditions or weakened immune systems.
Friends and family who suspect they are poorly with either flu or norovirus must
not visit patients in hospital unless absolutely necessary. If a visit is
essential, please telephone the ward manager first."
Symptoms of norovirus include a sudden onset of vomiting and / or diarrhoea. Some
people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps.
The illness usually resolves in 1 or 2 days and there are no long term effects.
If you are affected, stay at home, drink plenty of fluids, wash your hands after
using the toilet and prior to eating, and clean or disinfect contaminated
surfaces.
In particular, anyone who has experienced sickness or diarrhoea in the past 48
hours should stay away from hospitals and other healthcare providers, as either
a visitor or a patient, except in a genuine medical emergency.
Unlike a cold, flu usually comes on very quickly and symptoms include a
temperature, chills, muscle and joint aches, cough, sneezing and a runny nose.
Usually, you can manage flu symptoms yourself at home and there's no need to see
a GP. Most people feel better within a week, but call NHS on:- 111 or your
contact your GP if the
symptoms do not go away. |
