No visitors allowed for Raigmore Hospital patients
Highland hospital bans visitors to contain viral outbreak
Visiting at Raigmore Hospital has been temporarily banned after an outbreak of norovirus.
New admissions are also currently on hold for Ward 7C where eight-patients are showing signs of having the stomach bug.
NHS Highland is trying to control the infection after three confirmed cases of the virus.
Dr Jonty Mills, consultant microbiologist for NHS Highland, explained this decision has been taken to try and reduce the incidence of norovirus within the hospital.
He said: "We have taken the decision today to suspend all visiting at Raigmore Hospital on a temporary basis.
"We currently have a high number of patients in hospital with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting and we also know it is found in the community. By reducing the amount of traffic coming in to the hospital we hope that will reduce the risk of any further outbreaks of Norovirus.”
Katherine Sutton, Raigmore Hospital’s deputy director of operations, said: "We have a responsibility to make things safe and we know that norovirus is being brought into the hospital.
"We are asking members of the public not to come in to hospital to visit any ward however, there will be exceptions to that rule, such as an emergency situation, which can be arranged by prior arrangement with the nurse in charge.
"Hospital staff will of course be very happy to talk to visitors on the phone so they can get updates on how their relatives are.
"We appreciate your understanding for why we have had to take this decision and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."