Hospital all clear of gastro

27 February 2006

Hospital all clear of gastro

Tauranga Hospital has been given the all clear of gastroenteritis, and all wards are now open after a small outbreak closed Ward Four to new admissions and transfers for some of last week.

Staff at Tauranga Hospital contained the stomach bug extremely well, ensuring that there was minimal disruption to patient care and hospital services during the outbreak.

The gastroenteritis that has hit the hospital has also been prevalent in the community, and is thought to be part of a nationwide outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis.

“The public is reminded that norovirus is highly infectious, but control is best achieved by isolation while experiencing symptoms, followed by strict hand washing after using a toilet and again before preparing or serving food,” says Tauranga Hospital Infection Control Coordinator, Adrienne Stewart.

“People in the community who have caught the virus should not return to work or school until they have been without symptoms for 48 hours to help prevent passing the bug on to others.”

The hospital is urging families with members who may have gastroenteritis to avoid visiting friends and family in hospital while symptoms persist. It has also requested that any rest homes and other facilities for the care of the elderly currently experiencing an outbreak should notify the hospital if they have patients for transfer.

Tauranga Hospital General Manager, Alan Wilson, says the extra effort put in by hospital staff to control this outbreak, in particular the cleaners, health care assistants and nurses, is to be applauded.

ENDS

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