Visiting at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals suspended

Jan 28 2011

FAMILY and friends of in-patients at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals, Wirral, will not be able to visit them this weekend following a Norovirus outbreak.

The hospitals have temporarily suspended visiting of in-patients with immediate effect.

The decision has been made following the Norovirus outbreak in the community, which has affected some patients in the hospitals.

Tina Long, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "Norovirus is highly infectious and so it is important that we protect patients by doing everything possible to prevent the spread of infection.

" When our hospitals were recently affected by the flu outbreak in the community we took the decision to temporarily suspend visiting and this action proved to be extremely effective. "We received a great deal of support from the public who recognised that the decision was made for the wellbeing of patients and we would like to ask for their continued support in this current situation."

Norovirus (known as ‘winter vomiting’), is a highly infectious, virus that causes diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

The infection tends to last between 12 and 60 hours and most healthy people need no treatment other than to drink plenty of fluids and rest until they are symptom-free or recovered.

Dr. Katy Kidd, Director of Infection Prevention and Control for NHS Wirral said: "To avoid spreading the norovirus, I would advise anyone with symptoms to stay at home and allow the condition to run its course.

" In most cases, the symptoms will stop after two or three days.

"Anyone who suspects they may have norovirus, or has been in contact with someone who has it, should not visit local hospitals, GP surgeries or care homes.

"People should not go back to work until 48 hours after the symptoms have settled to avoid the spread."

Visiting to general wards at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals will be allowed in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the ward manager, to patients who are critically ill, children and maternity patients.

The situation will be reassessed at 5pm on Monday January 31.

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Springview and St. John’s Hospice located at the Clatterbridge Health Park are not affected by this suspension as they are operated by separate trusts.