Southport Hospital warning after norovirus outbreak shuts a ward

Visitors to Southport Hospital who are ill are being asked to stay away after an outbreak of norovirus which has closed one of the wards there.

Andrew Chalmers, Consultant Nurse and Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control, said: “Norovirus is highly infectious and is circulating in the local community.

“Patients’ friends and family who have symptoms of either diarrhoea or vomiting should not visit the hospital until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

“Also, if the patient you want to visit has these symptoms, my advice is to delay your visit until their symptoms have resolved. In circumstances where this is not possible, please make arrangements in advance of visiting by telephoning the ward sister.”

Symptoms of norovirus include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps.