Countess of Chester Hospital resumes normal visiting after Norovirus spike

Following a temporary pause to visiting in most areas of the Countess of Chester Hospital due to a rise in norovirus cases, the hospital has now confirmed that normal visiting has resumed.

Hospital bosses stated that pausing visiting was “not a decision we took lightly, and we know it has been difficult for relatives to be apart from their loved ones; however, it has had the desired effect of preventing the spread of norovirus.”

“We want to thank the public for your patience and understanding during the past couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, whilst normal visiting has resumed, norovirus remains a seasonal illness that we must be mindful of.

The hospital has asked those visiting to continue to “help keep our patients safe” by:

• Avoiding visiting if you are feeling unwell.
• Being aware that norovirus can spread in non-symptomatic people and using the hand sanitisers that are on our wards.

Sue Pemberton, Acting Director of Nursing and Quality and Acting Assistant Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We have been reviewing the norovirus situation at our Countess of Chester and Ellesmere Port hospitals on a daily basis since we paused most visiting to keep our most vulnerable patients safe.”

“This was not a decision we took lightly. However, it has had the desired effect of preventing the spread of norovirus, and we are pleased to update that the virus is no longer impacting our patients. Visiting will now resume as normal.”

“We know it has been difficult for relatives to be apart from their loved ones over these last two weeks and are grateful to those who have been unable to visit for their patience and understanding.”

“Whilst normal visiting has resumed, norovirus is a seasonal illness that we must be mindful of. Therefore, we ask the public to continue to help keep our patients safe – please avoid visiting if you are feeling unwell, and if you are visiting, please be aware that norovirus can spread in non-symptomatic people. Use the hand sanitisers that are on our wards.”