Swindon hospital ward re-opens after Norovirus

Ward re-opens after outbreak of the winter vomiting bug

THE Great Western Hospital in Swindon has re-opened a ward today (Thursday), following a seven-day bout of norovirus, which has also returned to a Basingstoke hospital, where visiting hours have been restricted.

The 35-bed Saturn ward was closed for the past week due to the highly infectious norovirus - better known as the winter vomiting bug - the hospital has confirmed.

The ward, used by patients with chronic respiratory illnesses, was closed on Thursday, December 29

A spokeswoman for the hospital, Rachael Lee, said that the virus was out in the community, and had been transmitted to the hospital and warned that people experiencing symptoms of the bug should not come into the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital today said that norovirus had returned to the hospital, but was unable to confirm the number of cases, or which wards, if any, were affected.

The Basingstoke-based hospital said visiting times have been restricted to 6.30pm to 7.30pm and urged visitors to be vigilant with hand washing.

The hospital released a statement, saying: “Using soap and water is the gold standard especially after contact with patients, before and after handling food and after using the toilet. Alcohol gel is not effective against norovirus.”

There are currently no Norovirus cases at the West Berkshire Community Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, or the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, the hospitals have confirmed.

With those with long term illnesses most at risk, a spokesman for the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Joe Wise, said it was important for people not to visit hospital for 48 hours after any symptoms of the bug had ceased.

Symptoms, which can last from 12 to 60 hours, include: headaches, feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and in some cases a high temperature.