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Treatments axed after outbreak of illness
PATIENTS expecting to receive treatment at Peterborough’s £289 million super hospital have been turned away because of an outbreak of norovirus.
Staff at Peterborough City Hospital have been battling the virus which forced the closure of four wards this week and the cancellation of treatments.
B7 ward re-opened on Wednesday and A10 and A8 wards are expected to re-open this afternoon, leaving justr A9 ward closed to visitors and new admissions. It is hoped A9 will re-open on Monday.
The outbreak of the bug has prompted Peterborough Local Involvement Network (LINk), which represents patients, to call on the hospital to make it clear how it has learned from past problems.
Chairman David Whiles said: “Peterborough LINk accepts ward closures are part of a number of steps to control the highly contagious virus and stop it spreading between patients.
“Operation cancellations to prevent further cases due to contamination or the volume of patients remaining in hospital due to the outbreak are a necessary action.
“We would like to see Peterborough City Hospital demonstrate what lessons they have learned from previous outbreaks and what measures are in place to avoid – or reduce – the impact of this outbreak.
“Peterborough LINk continues to make recommendations to the hospital following visits to improve the levels of hygiene.
“Our latest report, following a visit in November, will be available shortly. One recommendation made to the hospital at the time was to improve hand washing prior to meal times.
“Peterborough LINk would strongly advise the public to adhere to the precautions advised by the hospital and to practise the highest levels of hygiene at the hospitals – all year round, not just when an outbreak occurs.
“Patients should also not be afraid to ask their doctor or nurse to wash their hands; we have yet to come across a case where they have refused.”
More than 40 patients contracted the disease in the last two weeks, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
About 20 patients and staff were still ill yesterday. It has caused a few operations and treatments to be cancelled.
A Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman said because of the way the data is collated it is impossible to tell how many have had to be cancelled, but it was probably only a handful.
She added: “We will try to reschedule any cancelled patients as quickly as possible, providing the affected wards can be re-opened soon. We apologise to patients for the inconvenience of cancelling a procedure.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
