THREE wards at a Chelmsford hospital have been closed to new admissions after an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea.

Annie Davidson

THREE wards at a hospital have been closed to new admissions after an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea.

Bosses at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford have urged people not to visit patients if they are suffering from the norovirus or have had it in the last 48 hours.

Dr Louise Teare, director of infection prevention at control, at mid Essex Hospitals, said:” We know that norovirus is causing problems at a number of hospitals and healthcare facilities in mid Essex.

“Because of this we have temporarily closed three wards at Broomfield Hospital to new admissions.

“Please do not visit friends of relatives in the hospital if you have the virus or until you have been symptom free for at least 48 hours.

“Our main objective is to try and prevent this virus from being brought into the hospital and affecting our staff and patients.

“We need the public's help to do this.”