Gastroenteritis Update from MidCentral Health

22/06/2009 | Gastro update - 22 June

Staff at Palmerston North Hospital are focused this week on preventing the further spread or any new infection of gastroenteritis/norovirus.  Currently 36 patients and 23 staff either have or are recovering from this illness.

Norovirus is a highly contagious gastroenteritis and is easily spread in the community and in institutions. As a result, there have been further steps taken to minimise the spread of gastroenteritis amongst our hospital population.

Visiting is being restricted in all wards (except ICU, Child Health and Women’s Health) to seriously ill patients only.  Staff are in the process of advising patients and their next-of-kin.

Emergency Department patients may have next-of-kin or an immediate relative only with them.

The hospital asks that all visitors come through the Ruahine Street entrance where the reception staff will direct visitors appropriately.

Urgent and acute surgery will continue.  However, some non-acute surgery has been postponed.
Emergency Department patients and those with hospital clinic appointments should continue to access these services.

Patient property can be dropped off or collected at the reception desk by the main entrance to the hospital.

For further information, please telephone Central Enquiries on (06) 350 8770.

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