Hospital shuts ward to stop virus spread

Apr 16 2008 by Gregory Tindle, South Wales Echo

A WARD has been closed to new admissions after a sickness bug outbreak at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales.

It is the second time in three months that wards have been shut at the hospital to try to stop the spread of an outbreak to others patients and staff.

In the latest incident a 38-ward for trauma patients has been isolated and closed to new admissions this week after the virus was confirmed among a number of patients – some of them frail and elderly.

A total of 15 patients were today confirmed as having the virus.

Visitors have been urged to stay away from the ward wherever possible but those who do attend are have been instructed to take special precautions by wearing gowns and gloves.

Staff are wearing special protective clothing and operating a strict hygiene routine while on the ward.

Sue Gregory, the nurse director for the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, said: “There has been an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea on ward A6 and the ward is closed to new admissions.

“Outbreaks of sickness and diarrhoea often occur in hospitals after the virus is brought in from the community.”

In January the hospital was forced to close 13 wards to new patients after 40 patients and a small number of staff were affected by the norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.