Hospital bug outbreak 'worst for 4 years'

Restrictions on visitors will remain in place at Gloucestershire's two main hospitals until at least the end of the week.

It follows an outbreak of a Diarrhoea & Vomiting illness, which has affected a number of wards at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals over the past two weeks.

Although things are improving, visitors of adult wards have been told to stay away to stop if spreading further.

There are NO restrictions for visitors to the children's ward or maternity centre.

Dr Jim Stone is in charge of infection control for the Hospitals Trust, he gave Heart an update:

Listen to Jim Stone

The D&V illness can have relatively mild symptoms and is usually over within 48 hrs, but is highly infectious, which is why the Trust needs to limit the number of people moving in and out of wards.

The general advice to anyone suffering D&V at home is to keep hydrated and maintain high standards of personal hygiene and hand washing.

NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 46 47.

Patients who are unwell with D&V are asked not to attend Hospital Emergency Departments.