NOROVIRUS is causing ward closures across South Devon, and friends and family of patients are being urged to ‘visit responsibly’ to help reduce the spread of the common sickness and diarrhoea bug.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Torbay Hospital and nine community hospitals in the area, is starting to experience increasing instances of Norovirus and currently has one ward bay closed as a result. The virus is active in the community with ward closures in neighbouring Trust hospitals.

Dr Selina Hoque, of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Although Norovirus rarely requires medical treatment, for those who are already ill it can be more serious and it also makes it more complicated for us to provide care in the hospital.

‘Most people will recover from the bug within a few days, but will remain contagious for some time after the symptoms have disappeared. For hospital patients, who can often be more vulnerable due to existing illness or injury, the bug can have a more serious impact on their health.

‘It’s vitally important we protect our patients and we have well established systems in place to do this. However, we really need visitors and members of the public to assist us by visiting responsibly.

‘We know that people place great value on being able to visit loved ones in hospital, but when we are experiencing infection outbreaks in the community and in hospitals, they can unknowingly put patients’ health at risk.

‘If you are feeling unwell, or actually have diarrhoea or vomiting, please don’t come into our hospitals as a visitor for at least 48 hours after the last symptom has disappeared. If you become unwell whilst you are visiting then please tell someone in charge, even if you were ill in a toilet.

‘Also, if you are due to attend for an operation or for an outpatient appointment and have been ill, then please ring the hospital and let them know.’

The symptoms of Norovirus infection begin around 12 to 48 hours after a person becomes infected. Symptoms can last for 12 to 60 hours. They start with the sudden onset of nausea followed by projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Some people will have a raised temperature, headaches and aching limbs. Most people make a full recovery within one or two days.