FOUR wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital have closed after a norovirus outbreak.

The wards affected are B4 and C4, complex care wards, B1, the acute frailty unit, and D4, which is for respiratory patients.

They are currently not accepting new admissions as they have patients and staff affected by the sickness and diarrhoea bug.

The hospital is also asking members of the public not to visit any wards if they have symptoms and visiting is being restricted.

Some of the patients have been confirmed as having norovirus — although some may have similar symptoms caused by their condition or medication.

Richard Catlin, assistant director of infection prevention and control at the hospital, said members of the public could help by practising good hand hygiene and not visiting wards if they were unwell or had recent symptoms.

He said: “Norovirus can be brought into the hospital by members of the public who are visiting, or by staff, and unfortunately can then spread rapidly and is very unpleasant.

"An outbreak can also cause delayed admissions and discharges for patients. Staff may also be affected and have to take sick leave.

“We’d like members of the public to support their relatives, our patients and staff by not visiting if they have had symptoms, and making sure they wash their hands thoroughly if they do visit.

“We are working hard to prevent the further spread of this illness and will reopen the wards to new admissions as soon as it is safe to do so and after thorough deep cleaning.”

Norovirus is usually short lived and is not a problem for most healthy people but spreads quickly in closed communities such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools or cruise ships, and can cause problems for those who are already frail or ill.

The hospital is asking visitors to follow this guidance:

  • No more than two visitors at any one time
  • No children to visit
  • Visitors should not visit if they are currently experiencing diarrhoea/vomiting
  • Visitors should be at least three days free of symptoms before visiting
  • Visitors should wash their hands: on entry and exit to affected wards and departments; after contact with a patient with diarrhoea/vomiting; after contact with the environment where patients have diarrhoea/vomiting

Visitors with queries or concerns are being advised to contact the ward.