HUDDERSFIELD Royal Infirmary has been forced to close three wards to new patients after a winter bug outbreak.
Seven patients have so far shown symptoms of viral gastroenteritis at HRI including vomiting and diarrhoea.
One of the wards affected – surgical ward 8 – was today being re-opened after a week of restrictions were put in place when five patients went down with the infection.
Today wards 6 and 22 were still not accepting new patients after hospital bosses confirmed two more people staying there had also developed the symptoms.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation – which runs HRI – said restrictions on new admissions would remain in place on medical and elderly ward 6 and male urology ward 22 to prevent the infection from spreading further.
A spokeswoman said: “Two patients at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary are affected with suspected viral gastroenteritis and as a precaution restrictions are in place on two wards.”
News of the outbreak came after a concerned relative of a patient on one the wards contacted The Examiner to report the problem.
He said the ward where his relative was staying was almost empty after the outbreak and that restrictions were now being placed on hospital visitors too.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have not seen anything untoward but obviously patients and their families and friends have been very concerned.
“No-one with a cough, cold or respiratory problem has been allowed in and no-one with cuts or wounds can visit.
“But there are alcohol cleaning dispensers inside and outside the ward which people are being asked to use.”
Today HRI confirmed restrictions were not being placed on visitors and that people were still able to see patients in line with the hospital’s usual visiting policy.
