Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals currently has a large number of patients with Norovirus. In order to safeguard patients and prevent spread of the virus to visitors we have taken the difficult decision to restrict visiting to all inpatient areas.
Inpatient visiting will be restricted to exceptional circumstances. Exceptions include visitors to patients at the end of their life, patients in intensive care, babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, children in paediatrics and partners to the maternity unit. In these incidences we ask that only two visitors attend at any time and no children or babies attend.
We have set up a hotline via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, manned from 8am to 8pm, on 01932 723553 to provide advice and guidance to members of the public about visiting and for those seeking updates on their loved ones who are inpatients.
In order to bring the maximum opportunity to reduce transmission of Norovirus we are also taking measures to minimise footfall around the Trust and asking everyone to use the main entrance to St Peter’s Hospital where possible.
On entrance to the hospital building members of the public will be directed to hand washing facilities and provided with the necessary advice and guidance. Handwashing with soap and water is the best measure of infection control since alcohol gel is not effective against Norovirus.
If you’ve had symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting you should stay away from hospital until you’ve been clear of your symptoms for 48 hours. This includes outpatients – if you’ve had symptoms please call and rearrange your appointment which we will rearrange as quickly as possible. For Ashford 01784 884584 and for St Peter’s call 01932 723428.
Updates will be posted on the Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital website.
We would like to thank all patients and visitors for their support, patience and co-operation. We appreciate these restrictions and measures will cause concern but our focus is to maintain patient safety and prevent further spread of infection.