Ward shut at hospital

A ward has been sealed off at a second Black Country hospital after a number of patients were struck down with a bug.

The Westwood ward at Rowley Regis Hospital was closed to visitors and new admissions yesterday after three patients were struck down with sickness.

Two other wards at the Moor Lane hospital have been imposed with visitor restrictions of one visitor per patient.

The trust said it is not currently linking the outbreak with the Norovirus bug that has struck wards at Sandwell Hospital.

Jessamy Kinghorn, spokeswoman for the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, said that the ward at Rowley Regis Hospital was closed as "precautionary" measure.

"Though the patients do not have symptoms of vomiting, the matron decided to close the ward yesterday to new admissions as a precautionary measure," she said.

"On the affected ward we are asking visitors not to come to the hospital unless absolutely necessary.

"Visitors who have had or been in contact with someone else who has had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting in the last few days should not come into the hospital."

Priory five and Lyndon five wards at Sandwell Hospital were still closed yesterday to visitors after 67 staff and patients were hit by the suspected Norovirus outbreak.

Outbreaks of Norovirus are common, particularly within communal environments such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools.

The virus spreads easily from person to person, and it is possible for infection to recur several times as immunity to the virus lasts for only 14 weeks.

Symptoms usually begin with nausea, followed by vomiting and stomach upsets.

Some people may also have a mild fever, headaches, or aching limbs.