Getty ImagesAnyone suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting should stay at home and only return to work, school, or college when they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours, according to a top NHS doctor.
It comes as Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin has suspended visiting amid an “extremely contagious” norovirus outbreak.
The hospital’s medical director Professor Duff Bruce warned alcohol hand gels aren’t effective against the virus, nor is there any treatment and antibiotics will not work.
NHS Grampian announced on Sunday that it had closed wards five, six and seven to new admissions after more than 50 people were affected by the outbreak.
iStockWard eight and the Acute Medical Assessment Unit were shut on Tuesday while non-essential visiting has been suspended across the hospital as cases continue to rise.
More than 50 patients and staff had been affected at the hospital in Moray and cases have risen since.
An incident management team has been set up to manage the outbreak which comes after NHS Grampian declared a critical incident due to “extreme pressure” on services.
Helen Chisholm, lead nurse at Dr Gray’s Hospital, said staff at the hospital are working hard to ensure visits return as “soon as they can”.
She said: “I know how much patients and their friends and relatives value hospital visits. The current restrictions on visiting are for the safety of all involved. Our ward teams are doing their utmost to support virtual visiting, and we will return to our usual visiting arrangements as soon as we can.
“I want to thank the public for their cooperation and understanding. I also want to praise all the teams working in the hospital for the incredible amount of work they are doing to maintain patient care, as we manage this situation.”
Visitors will only be allowed in when someone is reaching the end of their life, if someone has dementia and needs family support, supporting someone with a learning disability, situations where someone is receiving life-changing information or a family member who has caring responsibilities.
Parents of a child in hospital and support during pregnancy and childbirth will also be allowed.
Professor Bruce added: “Norovirus, and similar illnesses, are very common, especially at this time of year. While unpleasant, most people will recover within a few days. Anyone suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting should stay at home, and only return to work, school, or college when they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.
“Alcohol hand gels aren’t effective against norovirus. Thorough handwashing with water and soap, along with regular cleaning of hard surfaces in the home with disinfectant, will aid prevention.
“If you, or someone in your home, is unwell, do not share flannels or towels with them. Contaminated bedding should be washed separately, on a hot cycle, to kill off the virus.
“There is no treatment for norovirus and antibiotics will not work. You should drink more than usual to replace lost fluids and get as much rest as possible. There’s more advice on the NHS Inform website, just search norovirus.”
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