Sickness bug keeps wards closed

Two wards remained closed at Sandwell General Hospital today due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus.

Restrictions on visiting hours at the hospital in West Bromwich also remained in place.

Health bosses at Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS trust were reviewing the situation today.

The closed wards at Sandwell are Priory 5 and Lyndon 5.

Three wards are also closed at nearby City Hospital in Winson Green, Birmingham, due to the bug and a ban on visitors to all adult wards is in place.

All wards that are closed due to norovirus are given a thorough deep clean, including all beds, lockers, tables and medical equipment, before they can reopen.

All bed linen is removed and changed with fresh linen and all curtains and toilet brushes are replaced.

Four wards were closed at Sandwell last week but two reopened over the weekend.

Hospital bosses have banned all visitors to adult medical and surgical wards to stop the winter vomiting bug from spreading further.

Children's and maternity wards are not affected by the visiting hour changes.

The ban on visitors applies to all adult inpatients other than in exceptional circumstances and with the prior agreement of the ward manager or matron. Bosses said all people with outpatient appointments at Sandwell General should attend as normal and patients with appointments for surgery should attend as normal unless they hear otherwise.

Special areas have now been set up at Sandwell General and City Hospital to hand in personal items for patients.

Drop-off points have been set up in the reception areas of both hospitals so visitors can drop off personal items and gifts.

No wards at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals are affected by norovirus.

All wards at Stafford Hospital reopened last week following a norovirus outbreak. There have been no new cases since then.

No wards were affected at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital today.

And a visiting ban has been lifted at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch and Worcestershire Royal Hospital with the exception of its Avon 2 ward.

Speaking last week Matthew Dodd deputy chief operating officer at Sandwell Hospitals said he understood the frustration of patients and their families, but said the hospital had no choice but to impose restrictions.

Jessamy Kinghorn, spokeswoman for Sandwell and west Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, said special areas had been set up close to reception areas in both hospitals where personal items could be handed in.