Vomiting Bug: Visiting hours restricted following Norovirus outbreak. Pic: © STV
Western Isles Hospital has strengthened their infection control measures following more suspected cases of the winter vomiting bug.
Medical Ward 2 at the Stornoway facility was closed to admissions last week after the hospital was struck with their third outbreak of Norovirus in a matter of weeks.
Restrictions to hospital visiting hours have been stepped up after more patients and staff experienced diarrhoea and vomiting.
Visiting hours to the hospital have been restricted to between 3pm-4pm and 7pm-8pm, but members of the public are asked not to visit Medical Ward 2 until further notice, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Those visiting the hospital are asked to wash their hands with soap and water before and after visiting, with only one visitor per patient permitted at any one time.
Visitors are also being urged not to visit more than one ward, to help prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the hospital, and not to bring flowers or food into the hospital until further notice.
Dr Louise Scott, GP Health Protection Team NHS Western Isles said: "Unfortunately experiences with Norovirus in hospitals across the country this winter are showing a pattern of repeated occurrence.
“We are also aware of the infection in the community at the moment - therefore this further episode is not entirely unexpected.
“NHS Western Isles continues with stringent infection control measures and in order to limit spread would once again ask any members of the public who have had symptoms of stomach upset in the previous 72 hours to refrain from hospital visiting."
