Broomfield hospital closes its doors to visitors following virus outbreak

DUE to the spread of the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus, Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford has temporarily closed its doors to people wanting to visit patients on the wards.

This restriction comes after two wards (B4 and B8)) have been temporarily closed to new admissions due to the virus.

The hospital, like many others, has been affected by the virus on several occasions in recent months and this decision has been taken to bring the situation under control.

Director of infection prevention and control at Mid Essex Hospitals, Dr Louise Teare, said: "We want to protect our patients and staff by restricting the chances of people spreading this infection.

"For this reason, regrettably, we are asking that people do not visit. We know that this virus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is brought into the hospital from the community, so it is very important that people who have had the virus, or been in contact with someone who has had it, take precautions to avoid spreading it."

This situation will be reviewed on a daily basis. However, for now people are being asked not to visit at all.

All patients (unless affected by Norovirus) should still attend their hospital appointments, but hospital waiting list staff will be contacting all patients who are due to come in for planned surgery to check they have not had the virus recently or been in contact with anyone who has.

The Norovirus stomach bug causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is very easily spread from person to person. The spread of infection is easiest in places where group of people are in close proximity for reasonable amounts of time such as residential homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces.

The illness lasts around two days and no treatment is required, however, even after the symptoms have cleared up people may still carry the virus and infect others up to three days after their own symptoms have stopped.