Hospital closes wards after outbreak of vomiting bug

Four wards were closed this week after the hospital on The Ridge after six patients were struck down with the virus on Monday, with 15 other people displaying the symptoms.

By Wednesday the number of confirmed cases had dropped to four with nine other patients with suspected symptoms.

Two of the four wards were reopened on Wednesday but Cookson Devas, an orthopaedic ward, and McDonald, a medical ward, were still closed to new admissions in the afternoon.

Patients already in the affected wards were not moved elsewhere in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.

Hospital bosses are now asking people not to visit patients at the Conquest unless it is absolutely necessary.

GPs and nursing homes are being advised not to admit anyone with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Anyone experiencing any symptoms of such illnesses are asked to refrain from visiting the hospital until they are symptom free for at least two days.

Those who must visit should ensure they wash their hands before entering the hospital and use the alcohol gel dispensers situated at the ward entrance and bedside.

It is also recommended that hands are washed when leaving the ward.

Staff, including the hospital's Infection Control Team, are isolating or segregating affected patients and making sure any staff who have the symptoms remain off work for 48 hours in a bid to stop the virus spreading.

Affected wards have been deep cleaned with disinfectant.

Dr Barry Phillips, the hospital trust's director of infection prevention and control, said: "We do have a number of wards closed to new admissions as they have some patients with diarrhoea and vomiting and we are doing all we can to contain the situation.

"We are asking for people to help us by not visiting patients at the hospital unless it is absolutely necessary."