PLEASE DON’T VISIT IF YOU ARE UNWELL!
A number of wards at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital have been closed to new patients because they are affected by seasonal diarrhoea and vomitting - D&V or gastroenteritis - caused by the Norovirus.
We are asking visitors to stay away and not risk bringing infections into hospital where vulnerable patients may be infected. Getting an infection while in hospital means a longer stay - and 'blocks' a bed that another patient may need. If you do need to visit, please contact the ward direct to check that they are clear of infection, ward telephone numbers are available here. An information leaflet for patients and visitors is available here. With your help, we successfully tackled a previous Norovirus outbreak at the end of last year, this is the second outbreak which is typical for this time of year.
Staff are saying to patients and visitors:
- don’t come to hospital as an inpatient, outpatient, or visitor if you have any signs of a stomach upset
- at home, always wash your hands thoroughly after using the lavatory and before handling food
- if visiting someone in hospital is unavoidable, wash your hands before and after the visit. Use the hand gel provided at the entrances to the wards. Please don’t use patients’ lavatories
- if you have had a stomach upset, wait until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours before visiting hospital where there are sick and vulnerable patients
By working with us in this way, you can help prevent infection in hospitals.