Stop Norovirus | Latest news

Please help us protect our patients and staff from infection and avoid coming into hospital if you are suffering with vomiting or diarrhoea.

Please do not visit for at least 72 hours after your symptoms have gone.

Please do not visit unless absolutely necessary. If you do need to visit, please ensure you wash your hands.

 

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Some people may also have a raised temperature, headaches and aching limbs.

Symptoms usually begin around 12 to 48 hours after becoming infected and usually will last for 12 to 60 hours. Most people make a full recovery within 1-2 days, however some people (usually the very young or elderly) may become very dehydrated and require hospital treatment.

 

How is Norovirus spread?

Norovirus spreads very easily in public places such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. You can catch it if small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as through close contact with someone with norovirus, touching contaminated surfaces or objects or eating eating contaminated food.

A person with Norovirus is most infectious from when their symptoms start until 48 hours after all their symptoms have passed, although they may also be infectious for a short time before and after this. You can get norovirus more than once because the virus is always changing, so your body is unable to build up long-term resistance to it.

 

What should I do to help stop the spread of Norovirus?

Avoid coming into hospital if you are suffering with vomiting or diarrhoea. Please do not visit for at least 72 hours after your symptoms have gone. 

If you are a patient:

• Don't be afraid to remind your nurse or doctor to wash their hands
• Remember to wash your hands and use the alcohol gel
• Remind your visitors of this advice

If you are visitor:

• Only visit the ward if it is absolutely necessary and you are well yourself. Speak to the nurse in charge if you are unsure. This will help us to help reduce the spread of infection
• Do not come into hospital if you are unwell
• If you are visiting the ward please wash your hands and use the alcohol gel provided when you arrive on the ward and before you leave.

 

Do you restrict visiting?

Purely as a precautionary measure we ask relatives and friends only to visit affected wards if it is absolutely necessary.

This helps us to reduce the spread of the virus and minimise the risk to visitors who may become ill or take the virus back into the community. It also helps us to clear the infection from the ward as quickly as possible.

 

Further information

If you are worried about yourself or a family member please call your GP or  NHS 111. Try to avoid going to your GP, as Norovirus can spread to others very easily.