Bug outbreak closes wards

A ward at Kidderminster hospital has been closed and operations at other Worcestershire hospitals have been cancelled because of an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea.

Fourteen wards at hospitals across the county, including one at Kidderminster, six at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and seven at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, have been affected by an outbreak of the bug.

Operations went ahead as planned at Kidderminster Hospital today – despite one ward being closed.

But patients who were due to have pre-planned operations at Redditch and Worcester Hospital were today told their surgery would have to be delayed.

Officials have called for people to "think twice" before visiting hospitals.

They said the decision had been taken after "a steady increase" in the number of people suffering from the symptoms going into accident and emergency units.

In some cases the particularly-infectious Norovirus has also been identified.

They also believe that people have been passing on the infection when visiting family and friends in local hospitals.

John Rostill, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We strongly advise people to think twice before visiting family and friends and to do so only if it is essential.

"If they have to visit then they will need to wash their hands with soap and water as they enter and leave the ward and use the hand gel.

"It may be possible for simple cases to be managed effectively at home.

"If people come into hospital with the symptoms there is an increased risk of infection to patients who are already unwell and to the staff.

"As a consequence of this, we have cancelled elective surgery today and tomorrow."

He said that any patient due for surgery at Redditch and Worcester Hospitals would be informed by telephone whether their operation was cancelled.