Visiting Restrictions Lifted

24 January 2012, 11:08 | Updated: 24 January 2012, 11:20

Relatives can again visit patients in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, which has been battling outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug.

Visitors were banned from all wards on Monday 16 January 2012 to try and stop the norovirus spreading. Wards were reopened to visitors on Monday 23 January, although visitors are being limited to one per bed.

One ward remains quarantined, as that's where patients who are recovering from norovirus are being treated.

The hospital say they would like to thank patients and their friends and relatives for their patience and understanding during the seven-day period of restricted visiting.

"By applying robust infection control measures and by restricting visiting on the wards the hospital has been able to halt the spread of infection and return to normal," a spokesman said.

They went on to say "the winter vomiting disease is still present in the local community, so we are asking all visitors to ensure they carefully wash their hands when entering and leaving the wards.

"If anyone is feeling off-colour, or has flu-like symptoms they are asked not to visit the hospital until they have been clear of symptoms for at least 48 hours."