New Restrictions At Bournemouth Hospital

Wards 2 and 5 are currently closed to visitors at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Paula Shobbrook, Director of Nursing and Infection Prevention and Control at RBCH, said: "Following confirmed cases of Norovirus on two wards at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital late yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 4 Jan 2012), we have implemented a restriction on visiting across all wards to next of kin only.

"We respond to outbreaks within our own hospital and we have very robust policies for doing this. We feel it is not in best interest of our patients to put a blanket ban on visiting across the hospital, as we have to balance the benefits that our patients get from interaction with friends and family, to the serious risk of threat from infection. However, we would ask that all visitors do retain good hand hygiene and do not come into the hospital if they have been in contact with anyone with symptoms of sickness and/or diarrhoea.

"We take patient safety very seriously - our infection control leads constantly communicate with ward staff so any issues are reported immediately and effective action can be taken. The two affected wards will remain closed to visitors, unless prior arrangements are made with the ward's clinical leader, and new admissions."