Gastroenteritis Update from MidCentral Health – 23 June

23/06/2009 | Gastroenteritis Update – 23 June

Staff at Palmerston North Hospital are focused this week on preventing the further spread or any new infection of gastroenteritis/norovirus.

MidCentral Health is asking the community to assist as they work to contain the highly contagious stomach bug and to prevent its spread to patients, and back into the community.

Currently 38 patients and 12 staff either have or are recovering from this illness, which has now spread through the medical and surgical wards.

Norovirus is easily spread in the community and in institutions.

Dr Mark Beale, Clinical Director of Medical Services, says:
 “We are taking strong measures to protect the community and patients from the spread of gastroenteritis – some of which has been confirmed to be norovirus. We are appealing to the public for their assistance by restricting visits to the hospital.

 “We understand that people want to be near their family members and friends while in hospital however for the patients’ and families’ well being it is important that we have these measures in place for the short term.”

The Emergency Department will manage family/support people on a case by case basis.

Visiting is restricted to seriously ill patients only in all medical and surgical wards. Intensive Care Unit, Child Health, Women’s Health, Mental Health wards remain unaffected and visiting in these areas continues as usual.

Outpatient clinic areas are unaffected and services continue. Any person with an appointment or having a procedure should attend as normal.

Next-of-kin of all medical and surgical inpatients have been advised of the visiting restrictions and asked to make other family and friends aware of them.

The hospital asks that all visitors come through the Ruahine Street entrance where the reception staff will direct visitors appropriately. All visitors will be asked to wash their hands at the hand hygiene stations there.

Patients needing to come to the Emergency Department should continue to use the entrance to the Emergency Department as usual.

Urgent and acute surgery will continue.  However, some non-acute surgery has been postponed. Short stay patients are being cared for in a separate ward.

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.

The restrictions on visiting will be reviewed next Monday 29 June.

Any person uncertain whether to visit the hospital should ring Central Enquiries on (06) 350 8770.

What are we doing to control the gastro outbreak?
Cleaning has been increased in all areas of the hospital - thorough cleaning of every surface is necessary to keep the virus contained.

Cleaning may bring delays for new admissions.
Appropriate bed management combined with cleaning is a key focus and patients affected by the virus are being nursed using appropriate infection control techniques.

Thank you
“We thank the public for their help – we are taking very strong measures to ensure the outbreak is contained and brought under control. We realise the impact on the community and apologise to those whose surgery has been postponed and any patients and visitors who are affected by the restricted visiting,” Dr Beale says.

Norovirus fact sheet