03 February 2011
Help your hospitals to beat norovirus
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is reminding
anyone who has experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting in
the previous 48 hours to avoid going to its hospitals.
Visitors
The Bristol Royal Infirmary and Bristol Heart Institute
are restricting visiting times to an hour a day between 6.30pm and
7.30pm. In addition, only two visitors are allowed per bed with no
change of visitors during a visiting session. Restrictions are
under constant review.
Visiting restrictions are not currently in place at the
following hospitals: St Michaels Hospital, Bristol General
Hospital, Bristol Eye Hospital and Bristol Haematology and Oncology
Centre.
While there are currently no incidents of Norovirus at Bristol
Royal Hospital for Children, visiting has been restricted to two
named adults and no siblings or friends. This is to reduce the risk
of infection and protect our patients, and visitors, from a variety
of other winter viruses.
Emergency Departments
People should only come to our Emergency Departments if
they are suffering from a life threatening injury or illness.
However, for people suffering with cuts, sprains or strains
there are alternatives available such as one of Bristols two
Walk-in Centres at Knowle Health Park or City Gate. In addition,
broken bones can be dealt with by the Minor Injuries Unit at
Southmead Hospital. If you are unsure of where to go, NHS
Bristol provide a GP out-of-hours service which operates 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Just phone your GP
practice.
Outpatients and procedures
Those with symptoms due to come into hospital for an
operation or appointment should phone ahead to let the nursing
staff know and to get further advice.
Quotes
Pat Fields, Deputy Chief Nurse at University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: We understand that people want
to visit family and friends in hospital but we are asking visitors
to be patient while we have restrictions in place.
We do everything we can to prevent and control infection and
these restrictions are necessary for us to continue to provide
patients with the best possible care.
Hugh Annett, director of Public Health in Bristol said:
Norovirus is out in the community and it is frequently brought into
hospitals by visitors or patients and is easily spread by contact
with people suffering diarrhoea and vomiting. Some people 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.
Our advice is for relatives or friends who have been ill not to
visit patients in hospital until 48 hours clear of symptoms, the
same goes for adults and children returning to work and school.
ENDS
