| The health authority continued to insist this was a normal seasonal occurrence, but when the Tele pressed for comparison figures, NHS Tayside revealed there were 63 cases of Norovirus last month, compared to just 18 in January 2009.
December’s figures were also up on the previous year — 40 cases compared to 25.
Yesterday NHS Tayside announced that Ward 7 at Stracathro Hospital was closed to new admissions due to Norovirus.
Such announcements have become almost a daily occurrence, with six closures since last Wednesday, mostly at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.
Wards 6 and 26 were reopened yesterday, while Wards 4 and 11 reopened on Monday.
Ward 2 remains closed to new admissions.
Ward 6 at Perth Royal Infirmary reopened yesterday.
NHS Tayside has declined to release the number of patients affected when announcing ward closures this winter, and the Tele has sought to get statistics for comparable time periods in successive years to see whether or not Norovirus infection this winter is indeed normal seasonal activity.
NHS Tayside infection controller Dr Gabby Phillips said, “Just as is happening in the community, our hospitals also see an increase in the number of people with winter vomiting bug, or Norovirus, over the winter months.
“This is something which we see every year, and we have detailed plans to ensure we can manage over this busy period.
“It is well known to be a virus that can spread within hospitals, families and the community.
“To try to reduce the spread of this virus into our hospitals, we ask people to avoid visiting friends and family if they feel unwell and have vomiting or diarrhoea.
“We advise that they should stay at home until they have had no symptoms for 48 hours.
We would also ask anyone visiting relatives in affected wards to try to make sure there are only two visitors at a patient’s bedside at any one time.
Visitors should also ensure they wash their hands when they enter and leave the ward area.
“We have issued similar advice to staff to protect themselves, their patients and other employees.
“Early ward closure and cleaning with bleach are also used to reduce the spread of this virus.”
Dr Phillips stressed that not all infections are acquired in hospital, but patients can be admitted with the virus, which is then detected in hospital.
Last April Dr Phillips told health bosses that in the six months to February that year 200 patients and 44 members of staff were affected by Norovirus.
Today there were no figures for staff infections available.
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said, “We monitor staffing levels on a daily basis to ensure all wards have the appropriate number of staff.
“Our wards have coped well and continue to do so, and that is due in no small part to the commitment of our staff who have worked extremely hard,” the spokesperson concluded. |
