Wards close as bug spreads

[okarol]

Wards close as bug spreads
Monday, January 04, 2010, 09:34

​ ALL non-emergency operations at the Royal Cornwall Hospital's three main sites have been postponed in a bid to contain the latest outbreak of the winter vomiting bug - norovirus.

The disease, which is not normally dangerous but highly contagious, is spreading through the Royal Cornwall site at Treliske; where 14 wards have been closed, the West Cornwall in Penzance and St Michaels in Helston. Staff and patients have been affected by the bug which causes sickness and diarrhoea. All visitors have been asked to stay away unless visiting a critical patient.

A spokesperson for the RCHT said: “There are still a large number of wards affected and where we have to wait for patients to be free of sickness and diarrhoea symptoms for at least 48 hours before they can be reopened. As a result we will be making changes to our usual services over the next few days.

“We will be postponing planned operations at all of our hospitals. Wherever possible, urgent procedures will go ahead but patients who may have been expecting to be admitted before the day of their operation may be asked to come in on the day of surgery itself. We will contact patients on an individual basis and will continue to review the situation for all surgery on a day by day basis."

Outpatients clinics at all of its sites will go ahead as planned. Restrictions on visitor access means all patients arriving for appointments at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske will need to use the main Trelawny Wing entrance (opposite the visitor’s car park). Patients will be asked to confirm their appointment at the reception desk before going to the location where their clinic is being held. Renal dialysis patients should continue to use their usual entrance.

The hospital is still seeing new cases of Norovirus, particularly among staff who have been caring for those who have been unwell. As a result employees able to work extra shifts during the outbreak are being urged to contact the hospital's central staffing line on 01872 25 3583.

Anyone wishing to visit a patient is asked to contact the ward before for advice.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/homepagenews/Wards-close-bug-spreads/article-1668509-detail/article.html

[Darthvadar]

This is a DREADFUL bug, and very debilitating... I was really concerned when Mum fell victim to it, that it would kill her... She was so ill...

Mum got it the last ime she was in hospital because some genius brought a child who had symptoms onto the ward... There are signs all over the hospital asking people who've had symptoms in the last 72 hours NOT to visit...

They closed the ward Mum was on, and quarrentined everyone for a week!...

Darth...