Plosure of hospital beds arer virus wave
Beds closed at town hospital
An outbreak of Norovirus at Scarborough Hospital has sparked health officials to warn the public to stay away if they have symptoms.
An outbreak of Norovirus at Scarborough Hospital, which closed three units, has sparked health officials to warn the public to stay away if they have symptoms.
Up to 50 beds were out of use to visitors as Oak Ward, Graham Ward and Aspen Unit fell victim to the winter vomiting bug and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Dr Phil Garnett, Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group chairman, said: “When a loved one is poorly and in hospital, our natural instinct is to want to be with them, even if we’re feeling under the weather ourselves. However, Norovirus is particularly contagious and if you have the bug, the risk of passing it on to others is extremely high.”
Graham Ward, Oak Ward and Aspen Unit were all reopened on Wednesday morning after a deep cleaning programme.
Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK, affecting people of all ages. It can be spread through contact with an infected person, by contact with contaminated surfaces or by consuming contaminated food or water.
Typical symptoms of a Norovirus infection include the sudden onset of projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Some people also experience headaches, mild temperature and stomach cramps.
Beverley Geary, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chief nurse, added: “Visitors can play a part by staying away while they are unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting and for two days after their symptoms have stopped.”