23 December 2008
Hospitals across Bristol are reminding people to avoid visiting
if they have had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting in the previous
48 hours.
Over the past few weeks, cases of Norovirus - the winter vomiting
virus - have increased in the community.
Norovirus is brought into hospitals from the local community and is
easily spread by contact with people suffering diarrhoea and
vomiting who may have contaminated the environment. Some patients
do not realise they are already incubating the virus when they
attend hospital.
Airborne spread occurs during episodes of vomiting, to those in
close proximity at the time.
Symptoms appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and can
last for up to three days.
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and North Bristol
NHS Trust, which between them run all the NHS hospitals in Bristol,
are asking people with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting not to
present themselves for initial treatment at Accident and Emergency
departments - they should first contact their GP or out-of-hours
service for advice.
Those due to come into the hospital for an operation or appointment
and have symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting should phone ahead to
let the nursing staff know and to get further advice.
Every year most UK hospitals, and also many schools and nursing
homes are affected by Norovirus.
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is continuing
to restrict its visiting hours. Visiting will only take place
between 2pm - 3pm and 7pm - 8pm - two visitors only will be allowed
per hour visiting session with no change of visitors during a
single visiting session. These visiting hours will remain the
same over the Christmas period.
North Bristol NHS Trust restricted its visiting hours two years
ago and these remain the same - 2.30pm-4.30pm and 6.30pm-8pm.
In addition both organisations are asking parents not to bring
children under the age of 11 to visit. These restrictions currently
exclude childrens and maternity wards. Exceptions to these rules
may be authorised by the ward sister or the nurse in charge in
extraordinary circumstances. Please discuss with ward staff or
phone ahead of your visit, if you have any questions.
Corinne Thomas, Director of Nursing at North Bristol NHS Trust,
said: "We strongly urge visitors with symptoms to please avoid
visiting the hospital until symptoms have completely settled for
two days. If a visitor has recently had diarrhoea or vomiting, we
ask that they phone ahead to the ward for advice.
"We are totally committed to controlling the spread of infections
in our hospitals and have a dedicated and highly skilled infection
control team that ensures all staff are aware of the symptoms and
control measures for this virus.
"However, it's just as important for members of the public to work
with us to help prevent the spread of Norovirus infection."
Christine Perry, Assistant Chief Nurse and Director of Infection
Prevention and Control, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust said: We appreciate that some visitors may find these
restricted visiting times difficult especially over the Christmas
period. However, it is essential for the Trust to manage infection
control to the best of our ability.
Both Trusts are also asking visitors not to bring in food that
could stay on lockers unwrapped such as crisps, chocolates, fruit
or cake. Instead visitors are being asked to bring items that are
individually wrapped.
