18 January 2009
Doctors and nurses at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are asking local people not to visit if they are suffering from winter-related viral infections in an effort to stop them spreading to patients. Top of the list of bugs are Norovirus (winter vomiting) and Influenza (flu).
Norovirus and flu are very infectious and outbreaks often occur in the community, particularly in schools and offices. They can then be brought into hospitals by patients and have the ability to cause outbreaks on wards.
Symptoms of Norovirus include severe vomiting and diarrhoea, whilst flu sufferers experience a fever that comes on quickly and general muscle aches and pains.
To help avoid the viruses, or reduce the chance of spreading them, visitors are asked:
If you have either virus:
-
stay at home until your symptoms have gone
-
drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated
-
make sure you wash your hands frequently to avoid the spread of germs after using the toilet or after blowing your nose
-
do not visit people in hospital until you have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
If you have Norovirus or flu and you are due to be admitted to hospital for an operation or other procedure, please call the number on your admission letter before coming in. The department you are due to be treated in will then tell you whether to attend your appointment, and will help you rearrange your admission if you need to stay at home.
To prevent infections spreading in hospital, visitors are asked to:
-
always clean their hands before entering or leaving a ward
-
wash their hands after using the toilet or after blowing your nose
-
wash their hands before and after handling food.
Consultant microbiologist, Dr Sharon Chambers said: "Norovirus and flu are very common conditions at this time of year and spread easily in big organisations like hospitals and schools.
"Healthy people will make a quick recovery. However, we are asking people not to visit if they are suffering from, or have the symptoms of, a viral infection like Norovirus or flu. They spread very easily to patients, making their recovery more difficult."
It is estimated that Norovirus affects between 600,000 and one million people in the UK every year. Flu affects on average 50 to 200 in every 100,000 people.
To help drive the message home, the Trust has put up hundreds of posters around its three hospitals which discourage visitors with viral infections from visiting.
People who have the Norovirus can expect the symptoms to go away within one to three days. If they are still feeling ill after this time, they should contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice.
