Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals are looking to staff and the public to assist in controlling the spread of both Diarrhoea &Vomiting illness (D&V) and flu-like illnesses.

As a precautionary measure, visitors are being asked not to visit relatives or friends at the hospitals.
A number of wards at both hospitals have been affected by the D&V illness, which is widespread in the community at this time of year. The illness usually comes into hospital when a patient is admitted for an unrelated illness or procedure. 

The D&V illness can have relatively mild symptoms and is usually over within 48 hrs, but is highly infectious, which is why the Trust needs to limit the number of people moving in and out of wards.

The Acting Director of Infection Prevention and Control said: “This is a precautionary measure and good infection control practice to protect patients and control the spread of illness. I hope that families and friends will understand why we are asking them not to visit for this short period.”

Visiting to children’s and maternity wards is restricted to partners, parents and carers. Any visitor to these areas who has or has had any symptoms of sickness, diarrhoea or flu-like symptoms is asked not to visit.
The access restrictions are put in place with the aim of protecting vulnerable patients.  They will be reviewed every day and lifted as soon as possible.

Patients can get advice on how to cope with diarrhoea and vomiting or colds and flu symptoms through NHS Direct’s online health and symptom checkers available at www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect. NHS Direct can also be contacted on 0845 46 47.