All wards at hospital closed to visitors because of widespread outbreak of Norovirus

THE Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, is closing all its wards to visitors due to a widespread outbreak of Norovirus.

Visitors are unable to visit any wards within the hospital until further notice. The situation will be reviewed on a daily basis.

Outpatient clinics, the Accident and Emergency Department and the Arthur Levin Day

Surgery Centre are all continuing as normal.

Visiting health professionals and students are still allowed on site.

Mark Henry, Director of Operations said: 'The decision to prevent visitors from going

onto the wards was taken in view of the severity of the diarrhoea and sickness outbreak,

which is widespread in the community and has affected more than 60 patients and 40

hospital staff since it began at the end of November.

"The hospital is easily affected by such an outbreak as people are often unaware they are carrying the virus until it's too late and they have passed it on.

"We appreciate the decision to close to visitors may seem drastic but our intention is to

stop this particularly nasty bug from spreading. We are certain that the general public

will appreciate this decision is made with the welfare of their loved ones in mind.

"We understand the inconvenience and distress this may cause but we have to put the

welfare of our patients and staff first."

A number of wards at the hospital remain closed to new admissions and some non urgent

operations have been cancelled for the time being due to the norovirus situation.