Hospitals across Kirklees are feeling the strain this winter – and now Dewsbury and District Hospital has shut its doors to all but a handful of visitors following a norovirus outbreak.
Last week, we reported that Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital were under stress and on the highest level of alert, with norovirus and RSV highlighted as key pressures across the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT).
A meeting heard that all beds were full across the two hospitals and some wards closed, with A&E attendance also up this year.
It has since been revealed that similar difficulties are being experienced at Dewsbury and District Hospital as a result of norovirus, with full visiting restrictions in place. Members of the public are also being urged not to attend A&E unless it’s an emergency.
The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s website says: “To help keep our patients, visitors and staff safe, and to help control the spread of norovirus, we have taken the decision to put full visiting restrictions in place at Dewsbury and District Hospital and Gate 45a at Pinderfields Hospital with immediate effect.
“Visitors can still visit their loved ones on affected wards where they are receiving end of life care, or the person visiting is the patient’s carer.
“Thank you for helping us to keep our patients and staff safe.”
If you have symptoms of norovirus, you should stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days, according to the NHS website. You should also avoid visiting hospitals or care homes during this time.
