Visitors urged to take precautions amid rise of flu, covid and norovirus in North Wales hospitals
Rising infection rates in hospitals across north Wales are causing increased pressure on the health service.
Viruses such as flu, norovirus and covid-19 are circulating in the community – causing rates of infection in the region’s hospital to be “higher than usual for the time of year”.
Earlier this month the Wrexham Maelor Hospital temporarily closed wards to visitors after an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug – norovirus.
With viruses and infection more likely to spread in the winter months, Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging visitors to take precautions when visiting the region’s hospitals.
Angela Wood said: “As the sustained pressures on health and care services continue across North Wales and the country, we have to try to limit the spread of viruses, such as flu, Norovirus and COVID-19, in our hospitals over the winter months.
“Patients who are unwell in our hospitals are more likely to be vulnerable to severe illness because of COVID-19, flu and other infections such as colds, diarrhoea and vomiting.
“Rates of infection in hospital are higher than usual for this time of year, as so many viruses are circulating within our communities, so there is more of a risk of infection.
“When we are seeing higher infection rates in our hospitals some of our wards will close to visitors so we urge family and friends who plan to visit to contact the ward beforehand for further information.
“You can help protect your loved one, yourself, and staff, by not visiting if you have a cough, cold, diarrhoea, or vomiting, or have a temperature.
“We encourage everyone to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser before and after they enter any wards or other clinical areas to help keep bugs at bay.
“Visitors are not permitted to sit on patient beds or use patient toilets.
“Masks are not enforced in our hospitals, but on some wards, visitors may be asked to wear them where respiratory viruses are circulating.
“Mask are freely available for people who wish to wear one.
“Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these times.”
More information on visiting at North Wales hospitals can be found here.
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