HOSPITAL wards are closed to visitors at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General after a suspected outbreak of Norovirus.
Wards 9b and 8a at GRH are closed and Prescott and Guiting wards in Cheltenham have temporarily been shut off to the public to restrict the spread of the winter sickness bug.
Director of nursing at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maggie Arnold, said staff are doing all they can to minimise risk to patients, but is calling on relatives and visitors to help.
"We appreciate while we are restricting visiting it is very difficult not just for patients, but for visitors too," she said.
"We monitor daily anyone who has diarrhoea and vomiting, and collect specimens to make sure patients are getting the right treatment.
"To have two or three patients in one area, the microbiologists know they are looking for particular viruses and bacteria.
"Some wards have been effected over the past couple of weeks, and we are now trying to get the message out for every one to continually be washing their hands with warm soapy water.
"People should not handle food if they have symptoms, no matter how mild.
"No one should come into any health care facilities until they have been clear of symptoms for 72 hours.
"Use the hand gels, but the best thing to do is keep washing your hands with hot soapy water, this is good practice anyway.
"I would like to reassure people if they have got family with dementia or who are confused, they can speak to the senior staff on those wards.
"We will review the visiting to see how best they can be supported."
"If anyone is in doubt, please phone the wards and staff will be able to provide an update."
Live updates will be available online at http://www.gloshospitals.org.uk.
Wards 9b and 8a at GRH are closed and Prescott and Guiting wards in Cheltenham have temporarily been shut off to the public to restrict the spread of the winter sickness bug.
Director of nursing at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maggie Arnold, said staff are doing all they can to minimise risk to patients, but is calling on relatives and visitors to help.
"We appreciate while we are restricting visiting it is very difficult not just for patients, but for visitors too," she said.
"We monitor daily anyone who has diarrhoea and vomiting, and collect specimens to make sure patients are getting the right treatment.
"To have two or three patients in one area, the microbiologists know they are looking for particular viruses and bacteria.
"Some wards have been effected over the past couple of weeks, and we are now trying to get the message out for every one to continually be washing their hands with warm soapy water.
"People should not handle food if they have symptoms, no matter how mild.
"No one should come into any health care facilities until they have been clear of symptoms for 72 hours.
"Use the hand gels, but the best thing to do is keep washing your hands with hot soapy water, this is good practice anyway.
"I would like to reassure people if they have got family with dementia or who are confused, they can speak to the senior staff on those wards.
"We will review the visiting to see how best they can be supported."
"If anyone is in doubt, please phone the wards and staff will be able to provide an update."
Live updates will be available online at http://www.gloshospitals.org.uk.