News

Relatives asked to limit hospital visiting as Norovirus picks up in region

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are asking you to help protect patients from winter bug ‘Norovirus’ as cases start to increase in our region.

Friends and relatives are being advised to avoid visiting the hospitals if they, or anyone around them, have had sickness or diarrhoea within 72 hours to prevent passing the bug onto vulnerable patients.

Although most people make a full recovery within 1-2 days, the bug can make hospital patients very weak and dehydrated and in some cases it can interfere with the effectiveness of the medicines they are taking.

Hilary Chapman Chief Nurse / Chief Operating Officer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said;
“We are really asking the public for their help in preventing the spread of this nasty winter bug. We are asking visitors only to visit the Northern General Hospital, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Weston Park Hospital or Jessop Wing hospitals if it is absolutely necessary in a bid to minimise the risk of the bug coming into wards from people in the community. We would like people to think about whether they or anyone close to them such as family, friends or colleagues have had diarrhoea, vomiting or fever within the last 72 hours. If this is the case then they should avoid visiting hospital and use alternative methods of contact.”

Those visitors who feel they have to come to the hospital are urged to follow these simple steps in a bid to reduce the spread of the bug among patients:

• Always wash your hands with soap & hot water and/or use alcohol hand rub when entering and leaving the ward.

• Do not visit if you feel unwell. If you, your family or close work colleagues have experienced vomiting and diarrhoea in the last 72 hours please do not visit.

• Do not sit on the patient’s bed. If you intend to visit your friend or relative please do not sit on their bed or the patient’s chair. Visitors’ chairs are provided – please ask the nurse if you need more.

• Do not be afraid to check that staff have decontaminated their hands either by washing them with soap and water or using the alcohol hand rub – they do not mind and expect patients and visitors to ask.