Hospital vomiting bug outbreak cancels 22 operations

MORE than 20 operations at a Scottish hospital have had to be cancelled because of an outbreak of the winter vomiting virus.

Seven wards at Monklands Hospital, in Airdrie, remain closed to new admissions after patients and staff started showing symptoms of norovirus. NHS Lanarkshire yesterday said there were 31 patients with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea on medical wards at the hospital.

In total, 61 patients have reported symptoms since the weekend and there has also been an increase in the number of staff with symptoms. The board said that as medical wards remained closed to new admissions, they were rescheduling patients due to have non-urgent planned inpatient surgery yesterday and today, affecting 22 patients.

But it said the site remained open to emergency admissions, and outpatient and day surgery were continuing. A spokesman said: “We are in the process of reviewing inpatient activity for Monday as it is likely that some non-urgent procedures will require to be rescheduled.”

Winter vomiting virus usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours, but is infectious for two days after the symptoms stop.

Infection control manager Heather Gourlay said: “It is important that people do not visit hospital if they have symptoms of norovirus and they should wait until they have been clear of symptoms for at least 48 hours as they may still be contagious.

“Patients and visitors can also help by maintaining good hygiene, especially regular hand washing before eating and after using the toilet.”