Stomach bug shuts 100 beds at hospital

FIVE wards at Staffordshire's main hospital were today closed because of an outbreak of a stomach bug.

The blow robs the University Hospital of North Staffordshire of around 100 beds at a time when it is already struggling to find room for seriously ill patients queuing at its emergency department.

Besides shutting the five general wards to new cases on both the Royal Infirmary and City General sites, officials have also slashed visiting time throughout the complex and banned children from entering any general ward to stop the norovirus bug spreading throughout the rest of the hospital.

Over the past few days the stricken wards – 123, 84, 57, 54 and 65 – have been filling with patients falling victim to the outbreak of the illness.

Also called the winter vomiting bug, the norovirus normally lays people low for between one and two days, but some sufferers become very dehydrated and require hospital treatment. They are usually the very young and elderly.

Symptoms start with the sudden onset of nausea followed by vomiting and diarrhoea, accompanied by raised temperature, headaches and aching limbs.

Chief Nurse Sarah Byrom said: "While norovirus is common at this time of year, we have seen a big increase in the number of people coming into the hospital with symptoms, and for the safety of other patients, staff and visitors it is essential that we restrict visiting.

"It will be restricted to 6.30pm to 7.30pm on general wards, and no children will be allowed, but staff will exercise discretion in some areas where families need to visit, for instance children's wards, critical care and the maternity department."

Officials have also asked that only essential visitors enter the site and anyone wanting to check the visiting times on a ward should nominate one family member to call the ward directly.

The blow comes as scores more beds are blocked by recovering patients who have finished their treatment but have nowhere safe enough to be transferred to.