Scunthorpe hospital ward closed due to diarrhoea and vomiting outbreak

Ward 24 has been closed to new admissions and patients receiving treatment on this ward will not be discharged to nursing or residential homes while they remain an infection risk.

The infection prevention and control team is reviewing the situation daily and regular and frequent disinfection is being carried out on the ward to contain the outbreak.

Visitors who have been suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting are urged not to come to the hospital until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.

Staff are being advised not to come to work if they have symptoms and to stay off for 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.

There’s no specific cure for the illness, which is usually mild and shouldn’t last more than a couple of days.

If you have symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting you should follow this advice:

Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration

Take paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains

If you feel like eating, eat foods that are easy to digest

Stay at home – don’t go to see your GP because norovirus is contagious and there’s nothing your GP can do while you have it

Contact your GP to seek advice if your symptoms last longer than a few days or if you already have a serious illness.