Following an outbreak of norovirus, some of our medical wards at Worthing Hospital have now been closed for general visiting.
Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It spreads rapidly in environments such as hospitals, schools, and care homes. It can spread through close contact with an infected person, by touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them or by consuming food that’s been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus.
To prevent further spread, the affected wards have been closed and we unfortunately must restrict visiting in these areas for exceptional circumstances only.
To check if your loved one’s ward is affected, or if you are unsure whether you can visit or not, please get in touch by calling the ward directly and an appropriate staff member will best advise you.
Careful management is essential to prevent further spread, so as we closely monitor this outbreak, we ask local people to take the following action:
- To stay away from our hospital, including when visiting, if you have had diarrhoea, vomiting or ‘flu-like’ symptoms (cough, fever, chills, fatigue, runny nose, or headache) in the past 48 hours, unless it is an emergency, or you have been advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
Visitors to any ward with Flu or Covid will be asked to wear a surgical mask to stop the spread and protect our patients.
Thank you for your understanding.