VISITORS are being advised to think twice before coming into Okehampton Community Hospital to see loved ones over Christmas, following the outbreak of a contagious stomach bug which has affected patients and staff. The hospital?s Dartmoor Ward has been closed to new admissions since the outbreak and health bosses are telling people that unless their visit is absolutely necessary they should consider staying away while the virus is dealt with. Following the outbreak of the Norwalk-type virus last week, the hospital closed its minor injuries unit overnight last Friday and Saturday night. The MIU has now re-opened although Dartmoor Ward remains closed to new patients. The number of instances is now declining and it is hoped the hospital will soon be given the all-clear. Mid Devon Primary Care Trust communications manager Nick Pearson said: ?We are advising members of the public that unless their visit is absolutely necessary to think twice about coming into the hospital. ?The reason for that is twofold: firstly, we do not want people coming into the hospital and picking up the bug but equally we do not anyone who may have been feeling unwell to bring it back into the hospital. ?We are doing all we possibly can to clear it up. ?The situation seems to be improving. At its peak, 13 patients and seven members of staff were unwell. As of now (Tuesday), three patients and one member of staff are showing symptoms of the bug.? Margaret Hamer, the hospital?s matron, said everything possible had been done to minimise further infection. ?Staff are following strict infection control guidelines and the ward affected has been closed to new admissions. ?This will take the pressure off the system and will help to ensure that things are back to normal as quickly as possible.? As well as temporarily shortening the hours of the minor injuries unit, the hospital is also dispensing anti-bacterial hand gel to those who do come into the building. It is thought that the cause of the current illness is a Norwalk-type bug. This can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and although unpleasant is not considered particularly serious. Samples have been sent for testing and the results should be known shortly. Mr Pearson said once the bug was completely cleared, a ?terminal clean? of the hospital would be carried out to make sure it was gone for the foreseeable future. The hospital?s minor injuries unit normally operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Staff there treat everything from broken bones to cuts and bruises with more serious cases being transferred to A and E departments at other hospitals. Each year around 3,800 patients are seen in the unit. The trust?s advice, as always, is that in a medical emergency people should not hesitate to phone 999 and request an ambulance. Outpatient clinics at the hospital remain unaffected by the problems.
