Wards 1 and 14 at Walsall Manor Hospital are both currently closed to visitors due to the highly contagious norovirus infection.

This temporary restriction has been put in place to protect patients, their families and carers and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust staff. It will be reviewed on Monday 29 April and any updates will be featured on the trust’s website and social media channels.

For those wishing to see patients receiving End of Life Care or who need to support patients with specific needs the trust is allowing two designated visitors to do so during this time, Staff are contacting those families affected in order to agree the necessary arrangements.

Director of Nursing Karen Dunderdale said: “We have put these temporary restrictions in place to protect people as best we can from this extremely contagious infection.

“Norovirus is very easily spread from person to person especially in places where groups of people are together for periods of time or where there are people more susceptible to picking up bugs due to being ill or weak or elderly, such as in care home and hospital environments.

“While we are doing all we can within the hospital environment we also need the public’s help. Anyone who has sickness and diarrhoea, or has recently experienced these symptoms, is being asked to keep away from the hospital. This is because people may still carry the virus and can infect others up to three days after their own symptoms have stopped.

“The most effective precaution against norovirus is to wash hands regularly with soap and water, and not just rely on hand gel. The symptoms last around two days and the only treatment required is to drink plenty of fluid to stay hydrated.  Anyone worried about symptoms, should contact their Pharmacy, GP or NHS 111 helpline by telephone.”