HEALTH bosses trying to prevent the spread of the winter vomiting bug Norovirus in Derbyshire’s community hospitals are urging people to stay away if they feel even slightly unwell.
Infection Prevention and Control experts at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust said people should visit only if they feel fine, to minimise the risk of Norovirus to some of the most vulnerable elderly people.
Matron Sue Dakin, from the trust’s Infection Prevention and Control Team, said: “We are requesting that people don’t come in if they feel unwell or for 48 hours after their symptoms have gone.
“We know it is difficult for relatives who feel they ought to come in, especially if somebody in hospital is relying on them to do their washing.
“But the risks of passing on the infection are very high and it can spread very quickly to others.
“Our patients are elderly and often frail and we want to avoid unnecessary distress to them. Added to which it can seriously disrupt services if we need to close a ward to new admissions to stop infection spreading.”
Figures from the Health Protection Agency show there are up to 83 per cent more cases of Norovirus in the general population than at this time last year.
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