Norovirus hits New Cross Hospital

The highly-contagious virus has affected 13 patients already and forced a ward to shut. It is the fourth time in just nine months that the hospital has had an outbreak.

Ward A8 – a male care of the elderly ward – is currently closed, with bays in other wards affected.

No staff have caught the bug, unlike during the most recent outbreak when some were told not to return to work for days for fear of spreading the virus.

Visiting restrictions are in place at the hospital and anyone with symptoms is asked not to go to New Cross.

The bug hit the hospital last August before further outbreaks in October and March. Chief operating officer Gwen Nuttall said: "There is currently one ward closed, a male care of the elderly ward.

"Thirteen patients have been affected. Visiting restrictions are in place and we would ask that anyone showing symptoms does not attend the hospital."