DGRI Winter Vomiting Update

NHS Dumfries and Galloway is continuing to implement full and robust outbreak contol measures as a result of suspected norovirus or “winter vomiting bug” at DGRI and staff have been working hard to minimise disruption and discomfort to patients and ensure continuity of care.

Following today’s Outbreak Control Meeting the position is as follows:

 

Ward 6 – Closed to new admissions and transfers

Ward 14 – Closed to new admissions and transfers

Wards 7, 10 and 12 are operating normally.

 

Currently a cumulative total of 55 patients and 31 staff have reported symptoms since the outbreak began last week.

 

The following arrangements remain in place:

The Hospital’s Infection Control Team is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that all appropriate infection control procedures are in place.

 

However, the advice to members of the public wishing to visit the closed wards is as follows:

 

Routine visiting to the closed wards remains suspended meantime and members of the public seeking to visit relatives and friends in hospital are advised not to travel whilst the outbreak measures are ongoing – to avoid the potential for further spread.

Where circumstances are such that relatives are concerned about the need to visit their loved ones in the affected wards they are asked to contact the ward concerned for advice before coming to the hospital.

All members of the public visiting other areas of the hospital are asked to comply with the hand hygiene and infection control measures in place.

Any members of the public who may themselves be feeling the affects of the bug, are advised not to travel to visit.

 

Castle Douglas Hospital

 

Suspected norovirus has affected 2 patients and 3 staff at Castle Douglas Hospital and a decision was taken earlier day to close it to new admissions and transfers. Staff have taken appropriate steps to ensure patients’ relatives and next of kin have been kept fully informed. Currently the hospital is undergoing refurbishment which has temporarily reduced the number of available beds, and therefore the non -availability of 2 bays has a greater impact on the hospital. As a result it was decided that closure to new patients and transfers was necessary.

 

 

According to Dr Martin Connor, Consultant Microbiologist and Lead Infection Control Doctor:

“It is apparent that as we are firmly in the winter period, the “winter vomiting bug” is being experienced throughout Dumfries and Galloway and is affecting members of the public and patients living in the community. The current outbreak affecting both DGRI and Castle Douglas Hospital reflects very much what is being experienced elsewhere in the area. We cannot emphasise enough how much the support of the general public in maintaining good hygiene practice and in complying with the restrictions in place is appreciated by NHS Dumfries and Galloway.”