Three Midland hospitals were today closed to visitors following an outbreak of winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Sandwell and City Hospitals have been shut after an outbreak of the bug in two wards at each site.

Meanwhile Walsall Manor Hospital remained closed to visitors for the fourth day.

Jessamy Kinghorn, spokesman of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell and City Hospitals, said: “ One of the ways norovirus spreads is by visitors bringing it into wards so we have decided to take this action. It’s a tough measure and something that has not been done lightly because we recognise the important role visitors play in patients’ recovery. But this is the most effective way to stop it getting worse.”

Mrs Kinghorn said A&E would remain open and operations would still be going ahead.

She added: “If there are exceptional circumstances the visitors should contact the ward manager,” she said.

Meanwhile, Walsall Manor Hospital remains closed to visitors today after an outbreak on three wards earlier this week. The Trust has installed mobile hand-washing stations at the main entrance to the hospital and in other key areas to stop germs spreading.

There have been a series of outbreaks of the virus in the last two months. In early February, Ward 14 at Walsall Manor was closed for nine days and at least two other cases of closures to visitors in January.