Staffordshire hospital trust tells residents with flu, vomiting and diarrhoea to keep away to ease winter pressures
A Staffordshire acute hospital trust has reported dozens of cases of the sickness bug norovirus in the past month as it battles winter pressures.
On February 10, there were six beds restricted due to norovirus, diarrhoea and vomiting at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) which includes Stafford's County Hospital. On February 7 there were 12 restricted beds.
In the week up to January 19 the trust recorded 45 cases. In that same week norovirus cases in hospitals soared across England with levels 80 per cent higher than the same period last year, while the figures also show 96 per cent of all adult hospital beds were occupied.
An average of 781 adult beds were filled each day by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms in the week up to January 19.
Of those, 45 were at UHNM; 35 cases were reported at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust including New Cross Hospital; and two cases were reported at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which operates Russells Hall Hospital.
UHNM Chief Medical Officer Dr Matthew Lewis said: "We take our responsibility to protect people from the spread of infection very seriously. Winter brings with it flu and norovirus or the winter vomiting bug and we strongly advise that people do not visit if they are unwell. People should be free of any symptoms for 48 hours before coming to the ward. This includes cough, colds, vomiting and diarrhoea."
"Our hospitals remain very busy. People should still come to our Emergency Departments if they have serious, life-threatening conditions that need immediate medical attention, such as chest pain, loss of consciousness, acute confusion, severe blood loss, serious burns, broken bones, suspected stroke."
However, no cases were reported in the week up to January 19 at Walsall Manor Hospital, Sandwell General Hospital or the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick.
NHS Providers Interim Chief Executive Saffron Cordery said norovirus and respiratory viruses were putting the NHS under great pressure as the demand for beds rose with the high levels of delayed discharges only increasing the pressure on hospitals.
"Nasty winter bugs are still wreaking havoc on the NHS", Ms Cordery added.
All of the trusts have been urging residents suffering from illnesses such as coughs, colds and sickness to keep away.
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