Visiting hours have been dramatically scaled back and another ward closed at a Black Country hospital due to the norovirus winter vomiting bug.

Visitors have been banned from adult medical and surgical wards at Sandwell General Hospital to stop the contagious bug spreading.

Four wards are now closed, which need to be free of contamination for 48 hours before they can be deep cleaned and reopened.

Deputy chief operating officer Matthew Dodd said today: “We need to do everything we can to keep our remaining wards open.”

The restrictions will be reviewed on Monday.

Children’s and maternity wards are not affected by the changes, which apply to adult inpatients other than in exceptional circumstances.

At City Hospital in Birmingham, two wards are closed due to the virus.

Four wards are still shut at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, with eight others partially closed.

Chief executive David Loughton said the situation was being reviewed daily at midday, and a general visiting ban was still in place. This does not affect friends or relatives of those who are critically ill.

All wards at Stafford Hospital have reopened after the recent outbreak of the bug.