Vomiting bug forces hospital to postpone operations

THE Highlands' biggest hospital has been forced to postpone operations and close three wards to new admissions due to a winter vomiting bug.

Three more patients and five members of staff at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness were hit by the bug yesterday. It has now affected 125 patients and 142 staff, although most have recovered.

Lead nurse Una Lyon, said: "Our first priority is our patients' safety and the decision to postpone admissions or close wards to new patients is never taken lightly.

"We are doing everything in our power to reduce the disruption that the winter vomiting virus is causing in the hospital and we will ensure that anyone whose procedure has been delayed is admitted as soon as possible. Urgent cases are still being admitted."

Public health consultant Dr Ken Oates said: "It's extremely difficult to halt the spread of this infection within a hospital when it is present in the community as well."

He said people should not visit Raigmore if they had been vomiting or had diarrhoea, or been in contact with someone who had those symptoms, in the previous 48 hours. They should also not take children into the hospital.