Norovirus closes four wards at Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland Royal Hospital is appealing to visitors to stay away if they have been feeling unwell with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Visitors should stay away if they have been unwell with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting and wait until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours before visiting relatives and friends at the hospital.

Visiting is also being restricted to two visitors per patient and no children under the age of 12.

Norovirus, which is very infectious, is the most common stomach bug in the UK. It is, generally, mild and most people make a full recovery within one to two days.

Paul McAndrew, Deputy Medical Director at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are currently dealing with an outbreak of Norovirus, which is a very infectious vomiting and diarrhoea bug.

"Whilst Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK and is, generally, mild, our first priority must be to protect vulnerable patients and, consequently, we are asking people to respect our current visiting guidance.

“Our infection prevention and control team are working extremely hard to prevent transmission of the illness, including constantly monitoring all ward areas to ensure that appropriate measures are in place so that affected areas can be re-opened as quickly as possible.

"The public have a very important role to play in helping us to protect patients and we really appreciate their support. We know how important visiting is to patients, and their relatives, friends and carers, and we are monitoring the situation regularly and hope that normal visiting access can be restored very soon.”

The outbreak comes at a time when the NHS in Sunderland, as in the whole of the North East, is under severe pressure and people across the region are being urged to stay away from emergency departments unless they are seriously unwell or in need of critical or life-saving care.

Facts about Norovirus

· Norovirus, or winter vomiting, causes a very unpleasant but, generally, short-lived illness from which people will usually recover without treatment. The main symptom is vomiting, sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea, and some people may have a raised temperature and experience headaches and aching limbs. There is no specific treatment and the illness just has to run its course. Most people make a full recovery within one to two days.

· It is estimated that Norovirus affects between 600,000 and one million people in the United Kingdom every year.

· General advice for people who think they have norovirus:

§ Stay at home and take plenty of fluids

§ If symptoms persist, ask for a telephone consultation with your family doctor. Try to avoid visiting your GP surgery or local Emergency Department as you may pass the infection on to others

§ Wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times but particularly after using the toilet and before eating

§ Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes until you have fully recovered and have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours to avoid putting vulnerable people at risk

§ Stay away from work or school until you have fully recovered and have been free of symptoms for 48 hours

§ Do not handle or prepare food for other people until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours