VISITORS to Ipswich Hospital are urged to stay away as a safety measure while the snowy weather continues.

VISITORS to Ipswich Hospital are urged to stay away as a safety measure while the snowy weather continues.

One ward, Saxmundham, remains closed to new admissions due to an outbreak of the winter sickness bug (Norovirus).

Visitors to maternity, critical care, children's services, Somersham Ward (cancer centre) and the emergency assessment units will be welcome at the hospital. However visitors to all other wards are being asked not to come to the hospital. Any visitor who feels unwell themselves should not come to the hospital.

Gwen Collins, the hospital's director of nursing and quality said: “We know how important it is for patients in hospital to have visitors, but during this really cold spell, we are asking all visitors to put their own safety first and not come to the hospital.

“The hospital is very busy with people in need of urgent care. We currently have one ward closed to new admissions because of the winter sickness bug (called Norovirus) and as well as thinking of visitors' own safety, we are also trying to protect patients and staff from any further infections. Reducing the number of people on the hospital site, will help us do this.”

Anyone coming into the hospital will be asked to wash their hands with soap and water before entering any clinical area.

Essential visitors are being asked to park in Car Park F - which is the main outpatients car-park (directly in front of the main roundabout as you come onto the hospital site).

West Suffolk Hospital also remains closed to visitors following an outbreak of Norovirus.

Five wards at the hospital are shut to new admissions after patients showed symptoms of the highly contagious virus.

The hospital, which closed to visitors last Wednesday in an attempt to contain the outbreak, remains shut, with exceptions will be made for people visiting paediatric, intensive care and palliative care patients.

Nichole Day, executive chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control at the hospital, said: “We would like to thank visitors for their patience and understanding so far, and would urge them to continue to help us control this outbreak by staying away from the hospital site.

“Anyone who does need to come into the building can help by cleaning their hands thoroughly with soap and water in the sinks we have provided.

Outpatients or staff members who have had symptoms of Norovirus should stay away from the hospital until at least 72 hours after their last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting to limit the chances of the illness spreading.