WORCESTERSHIRE Royal Hospital has fully re-opened to visitors after an outbreak of norovirus was contained.
Only essential visits were allowed at the hospital last week as staff battled to contain the illness which had spread to four areas.
Children under the age of 16 were also told to stay away to try and stop the bug spreading to schools, nurseries and playgroups.
Similar restrictions which were in place at The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch have also been lifted.
But as the extremely contagious sickness bug continues to circulate in the community, bosses at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, are reminding visitors to continue to take precautions.
As part of the Pull Together to Prevent Infection scheme, visiting is still restricted to two people at a time. Anyone who has been unwell with sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours should not visit.
People should also report any concerns about cleanliness standards, use the hand gel provided before and after visiting a ward, sit on a chair and not the bed and try not to visit in work clothes if they are dusty or dirty.
Visitors should also not touch drips, wounds or catheters.
Lindsey Webb, chief nursing officer, said: “We would like to thank all of those people who, over the past few days, have heeded our advice and avoided visiting the hospitals. We would also like to thank those who have arrived and been turned away for their understanding of the situation.
“This extra vigilance really does mean that we have been able to control the situation quickly and I am pleased to report that visiting is now back to normal.
“However, we do still urge visitors to follow our infection control advice when coming to the hospital to help us keep the situation contained.”
Visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/about-us/infection-prevention-control for more information about Pull Together To Prevent Infection.
