Infection control warnings for Devon hospitals following virus outbreak
14:55 - 29/06/2011
Infection control warnings for Devon ...
People were instructed not to visit four hospitals in Devon after they were hit by the vomiting bug, norovirus.
The virus, which is most common in winter, causes sickness and diarrhoea and has affected hospitals in Torbay, Paignton, Dawlish and Newton Abbot.
According to the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, specialist infection control and cleaning teams were working hard at each of the hospitals to try to control the outbreak and reduce the spread of the virus.
An infection control specialist nurse, Natalie Illingworth, said: “We know that people place great value on being able to visit loved ones in hospital but during periods when we are experiencing infection outbreaks in the community and in hospitals they can unknowingly be putting patients’ health at real risk.”
Visitors were told to stay away from the infected hospitals, some of which had wards closed to new admissions, and people who felt unwell were asked to stay away until they had been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours.
Back in March, visitors were instructed to stay away from two hospitals in North Devon and South Molton following the outbreak of a diarrhoea and vomiting bug and in early June a large number of pupils and staff from a school in Dorset stayed at home after another suspected outbreak of norovirus.
Torbay Hospital began to ask people to think twice by “visiting responsibly” to combat the spread of norovirus in early March. Visiting restrictions were then lifted again by the end of the month, before this latest outbreak put the hospital back on alert.
Once visiting restrictions are lifted in all four hospitals, it remains very important that anyone suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting refrains from visiting hospital until they have been free of all symptoms for at least 48 hours. All hospital visitors should practice good hygiene and use the guidance provided by the hospital. Most areas will provide either soap and water or alcohol hand gels for this purpose.
First Response Training can provide an Infection Control training course for anyone in the care environment. Julie Crowther, Associate Director of Quality and Curriculum at First Response, says: “It is important that anyone involved in providing health and social care is well-versed in good infection control techniques and practices, and that they are up-to-date on their training.
“Our infection control training course meets the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards requirements and has links to QCF Level 2. It is a vital seminar which provides training and information in the essentials of infection control. We can also offer a CIEH-accredited Hygiene in Health and Social Care training course, please call us for further information.”
To contact First Response today, please call free phone 0800 310 2300.
The virus, which is most common in winter, causes sickness and diarrhoea and has affected hospitals in Torbay, Paignton, Dawlish and Newton Abbot.
According to the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, specialist infection control and cleaning teams were working hard at each of the hospitals to try to control the outbreak and reduce the spread of the virus.
An infection control specialist nurse, Natalie Illingworth, said: “We know that people place great value on being able to visit loved ones in hospital but during periods when we are experiencing infection outbreaks in the community and in hospitals they can unknowingly be putting patients’ health at real risk.”
Visitors were told to stay away from the infected hospitals, some of which had wards closed to new admissions, and people who felt unwell were asked to stay away until they had been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours.
Back in March, visitors were instructed to stay away from two hospitals in North Devon and South Molton following the outbreak of a diarrhoea and vomiting bug and in early June a large number of pupils and staff from a school in Dorset stayed at home after another suspected outbreak of norovirus.
Torbay Hospital began to ask people to think twice by “visiting responsibly” to combat the spread of norovirus in early March. Visiting restrictions were then lifted again by the end of the month, before this latest outbreak put the hospital back on alert.
Once visiting restrictions are lifted in all four hospitals, it remains very important that anyone suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting refrains from visiting hospital until they have been free of all symptoms for at least 48 hours. All hospital visitors should practice good hygiene and use the guidance provided by the hospital. Most areas will provide either soap and water or alcohol hand gels for this purpose.
First Response Training can provide an Infection Control training course for anyone in the care environment. Julie Crowther, Associate Director of Quality and Curriculum at First Response, says: “It is important that anyone involved in providing health and social care is well-versed in good infection control techniques and practices, and that they are up-to-date on their training.
“Our infection control training course meets the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards requirements and has links to QCF Level 2. It is a vital seminar which provides training and information in the essentials of infection control. We can also offer a CIEH-accredited Hygiene in Health and Social Care training course, please call us for further information.”
To contact First Response today, please call free phone 0800 310 2300.
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