Hospital wards shut after virus outbreak

A SCOTTISH hospital has had to close seven wards to new patients and planned operations could be postponed due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting virus.

NHS Lanarkshire said it was investigating a number of cases of vomiting and diarrhoea due to norovirus infection among patients on seven wards at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

The affected wards have been closed to new admissions, which means that no new patients are brought into the ward until the infection has been removed.

The board also said planned operations could be affected if wards could not take in patients who were due for surgery.

They said the situation was being reviewed and direct contact would be made with individual patients should their procedure need to be postponed.

Winter vomiting virus, which causes sickness and diarrhoea, is common in the community and can often lead to wards having to close to new patients temporarily if infections are detected.

NHS Lanarkshire said since cases emerged at the weekend, 41 patients had reported symptoms, with 27 currently symptomatic. In addition, 11 staff members had suffered symptoms. The illness usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours, but it is infectious for two days after the symptoms stop.

Infection control manager Heather Gourlay said patients, visitors and staff could help minimise the impact of norovirus.

“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,” she said.

“Patients and visitors can also help by maintaining good hygiene, especially regular hand washing before eating and after using the toilet, as alcohol hand sanitisers are ineffective in removing norovirus from hands.”