NHS Dumfries and Galloway has today (8 March 2016) taken the precautionary measure to temporarily restrict visitors to Ward 16 at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, due to patients experiencing symptoms of nausea and diarrhoea clinically consistent with Norovirus.
The Hospital’s Infection Control team is continually monitoring the situation and has implemented full outbreak control measures and all appropriate infection control procedures have been put in place.
Ward 16 is now closed to new admissions, transfers and routine visiting. This will be reviewed on a daily basis.
Elaine Ross, Infection Control Manager, said:
“Our priority is always patient, public and staff safety. We appreciate that this temporary visiting restriction to Ward 16 may cause some frustration, this measure will allow us to help prevent further spread of the infection and ensure safe patient care.”
Where circumstances are such that relatives are concerned about the need to visit their loved ones in Ward 16, they are asked to contact the ward before coming to the hospital.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to wait 48 hours after experiencing any symptoms of nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting before visiting patients in 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.”
