Scots hospital wards closed as vomiting bug takes toll

HOSPITALS across Scotland have been forced to shut wards in an attempt to isolate the highly infectious winter vomiting bug.

Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary has been worst hit, with five wards affected Picture: Stephen Mansfield

A total of 19 wards are closed, mostly in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, which has shut 12 wards to new admissions as the norovirus sweeps through the country.

A Greater Glasgow spokeswoman said six of its 25 acute hospitals were affected.

The Victoria Infirmary, which has suspended new admissions to five wards, has been the worst hit.

Tom Walsh, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's infection control manager, said: "We will continue to monitor this situation closely and are doing all we can to further prevent the spread of this infection.

"This virus is extremely common in the wider community and we wish to remind hospital visitors of the importance of hand hygiene when entering and leaving hospital premises.

"We also ask anyone who has experienced diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48 hours not to visit any of our hospitals."

In Aberdeenshire, half of Fraserburgh Hospital was closed after patients complained of vomiting and diarrhoea.

It is understood patients in five wards at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary have also shown signs of the illness.

An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: "We normally have cases of the winter vomiting bug at this time of year.

"We have had a few confirmed cases of norovirus but have had no ward closures at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary."

She added that measures introduced included regular handwashing and keeping infected patients in the same wards.

Other areas hit include NHS Ayrshire, which has closed three wards in Ayr and Biggart hospitals, and Forth Valley, which shut two wards at Stirling Royal Infirmary after 20 patients and eight staff were affected with suspected norovirus.

NHS Lothian has shut just one bay in a ward following a suspected case.

Last night, NHS managers said the norovirus outbreak had forced at least 98 wards in 44 hospitals to close to new patients across the UK.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 people a week in Britain – thought to be the highest number of cases since 2002 – are catching norovirus. A survey suggested staff illness caused by the virus had cost UK businesses £80 million in the past two days.

Doctors have advised sufferers to stay off work for 48 hours until symptoms have cleared.

WARDS AFFECTED BY NOROVIRUS

WITH infections running at the highest rate since 2002, many NHS units across the UK are refusing to take new admissions. The Scottish hospitals hit are:

• Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – one ward closed.

• Fraserburgh – one ward closed.

• Ayr – two wards closed.

• Biggart, Prestwick – one ward closed.

• Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow – five wards closed.

• Royal Alexandra, Paisley – two wards closed.

• Vale of Leven, Dumbarton – two wards closed.

• Gartnavel General, Glasgow – one ward closed.

• Southern General, Glasgow – one ward closed.

• The Orchards, Glasgow – one ward closed.

• Stirling Royal Infirmary – two wards closed.

• Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – one bay in a ward closed.