Wards open again after winter bug

A NUMBER of hospital wards forced to close after being hit by the norovirus winter vomiting bug have reopened.

Wards at the Western General Hospital, Roodlands Hospital and another at Ferryfield House, which shut down last week, are back up and running.

Across the Lothians, only Liberton and Edington Cottage Hospital in North Berwick have seen wards closed this week. Part of a ward at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary which closed is also treating patients once again.

New data released by Health Protection Scotland shows that four wards in total – three at Liberton and one at Edington – remained closed in the Lothians, down from six last week.

The number of patients falling ill due to norovirus at the start of the week hit 25, while eight members of staff displayed symptoms. At the same time last week, 50 patients were displaying symptoms and 17 staff members were affected.

This year has seen an earlier than expected onset of norovirus season and an unusually high number of cases, causing services to come under increased strain.

The vast majority of norovirus sufferers make a full recovery, but it can be fatal in the old and frail.