Hospital ward closed by vomiting bug

A hospital ward in Wales has barred visitors and new patients after an outbreak of norovirus. 

Ward C at Morriston Hospital in Swansea has been shut after six patients showed symptoms of the vomiting bug. 

Managers said that if large numbers of patients on other wards began to demonstrate symptoms of the virus, then the entire hospital would be shut down.

The norovirus causes patients to develop acute gastroenteritis symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.

Director of Nursing Victoria Franklin said that this winter the vomiting bug had begun to reach its peak faster than normal and this meant they had to shut down some of their wards.

"Our hospitals are also under a huge amount of pressure because of the unusually cold weather, which has increased the number of emergency patients being admitted."

She added: "Closing wards because of norovirus is a necessary action, but it does mean that beds are taken out of commission while the ward is closed. This can cause delays in admitting patients. This is another reason why we need to take additional measures to deal with norovirus as quickly as possible."

Earlier in December 157 people showed symptoms of norovirus at the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff.

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