Hospital visiting restrictions eased

A BAN on visiting the Alexandra Hospital has been relaxed as hospital bosses say they are getting to grips with an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Restrictions have been in place for the last seven days which has prevented people from visiting relatives at the Alex, Worcestershire Royal and Kidderminster Hospital except in exceptional circumstances, due to the increasing number of cases of the bug within the community and to help control the spread within the hospitals themselves.

Although Ward 2 at the Woodrow Drive hospital and the Laurel, Avon and Beech areas at the Worcestershire Royal are affected and remain closed to visitors, residents are still being asked not to visit if they have been exposed to illness or have been ill themselves in the last 72 hours.

Rules which limit visitors to only immediate family members and no more than two at a time remain in place.

Helen Blanchard, chief nursing officer for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said with the help of the public and vigilance of hospital staff they were helping to bring the outbreak under control.

"Norovirus is very common during the winter months. We are making progress with this outbreak but this winter we would continue to ask anyone with any symptoms of norovirus infection such as diarrhoea and/or vomiting to stay at home rather than come into hospital. For advice telephone your GP or NHS Direct rather than risking transmitting the infection further."

There is no specific treatment for norovirus apart from letting it run its course. Advice includes drinking plenty of fluid, washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet and not preparing food until 48 hours after symptoms have subsided.

People should call a GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice if symptoms do not quickly subside or they have additional concerns.

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