Gastro/flu poster spells out when not to visit

15/06/2009 | Gastro/flu poster

MidCentral Health is sending a strong message to visitors in a poster spelling out when not to visit friends and relatives in hospital.

Two medical wards (25 and 26) at Palmerston North Hospital remain closed to new patients, and Infection Control staff are again appealing to visitors to restrict visits, to help minimise the spread of gastroenteritis, confirmed to be Norovirus, in the hospital. Patients affected since Sunday 7 June now number 31, and 40 staff have reported gastro symptoms.

Infection Control Nurse Manager Lorraine Rees says “Noroviruses are common in our community and highly infectious.” Routes of infection can include: Droplets, transmission through the air from aerosolised vomit and faeces, close contact with those infected, and the environment. Gastro can also be introduced by visitors to an institution.

“Please visit patients only if it is really necessary, and wash hands before and after visiting to lessen the risk of bringing further gastro infections into the hospital or spreading the infection between areas within the hospital or taking home to families,” Lorraine says. The hospital is also asking visitors to only visit if really necessary and to restrict their visits to Visiting Hours which are 2pm to 8pm. A drop off and collection point for patient property is available at the entrance to wards.

Hand hygiene stations are placed at the front entrance, outside wards and at other places within the hospital. Visitors are asked to use these when entering and leaving.
Visitors who have had any recent sickness, like vomiting and/or diarrhoea, should not visit anyone, especially in hospitals, rest homes and similar institutions, until 48 hours after they have been cleared of any such illness.

Emergency Department patients and those with hospital clinic appointments should continue to access these services.

Gastro/flu poster

CONTACT:
Communications Unit: (06) 350-8945.