Norovirus outbreak hits 15 workers at Russells Hall Hospital
Fifteen hospital staff were struck down with illness following an norovirus outbreak at Russells Hall, it has emerged.
The winter vomiting bug swept through a ward in January, forcing it to be closed.
Nurses and other staff working on the ward became ill after catching the virus.
Visitors have been warned not to visit the hospital if displaying symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea following the outbreak, which also affected 13 patients.
Bosses described the outbreak as 'serious' but said the bug was contained and the ward has now re-opened.
It came at the worst possible time for the Dudley hospital, which has struggled to cope with pressures on its A&E department this winter.
The hospital's B1 ward was locked down from January 10 when bosses became aware of the outbreak. It remained closed until last week.
Dr Paul Harrison, acting chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs Russells Hall, said actions were taken to prevent the bug from spreading to other wards.
He said: "Ward B1 was closed from January 10 to 23 due to a norovirus outbreak.
"The virus was identified quickly and was contained using our usual norovirus procedures. No other areas were affected.
"While the ward was closed, no new patients were admitted and nursing staff working during the outbreak were rostered only to work in that area."
Dr Harrison added: "The ward is now open as usual; however, patients and visitors are still asked to remain vigilant by not attending any of our hospital sites if they have experienced diarrhoea or vomiting during the previous 48 hours.
"We also encourage patients and visitors to follow the same hand hygiene and other infection control procedures followed by our staff whilst visiting hospital."