Ward Visits limited

July 31, 2009

Taranaki Base Hospital is limiting visits to patients in Ward 5 as staff try to control an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

Six patients in Ward 5 (general medical) have fallen ill with vomiting and/or diarrhea. The ward has been closed to everyone except essential staff and visitors, as a precautionary measure.

Visitors are asked to ring Ward 5 before arriving. If the visit is essential, they will be required to wear appropriate protective clothing.

TDHB Hospital Operations Manager Steve Berendsen says ward staff, Public Health and Infection Control are monitoring the situation. “We are doing everything we can to prevent this illness spreading to anyone else,” he said. “And we are asking our visitors to help us with this.”

Mr Berendsen says members of the public who have had vomiting or diarrhoea, or who have visited someone with these symptoms, should not visit the hospital until they have been symptom free for at least 48 hours.

The ward will not be accepting new admissions. Heightened infection control measures have been put in place to help prevent any possible spread.

Patients in Ward 5 will be discharged directly to their home when appropriate. Discharges to rest homes or transfers to other wards or hospitals will be stopped as a precaution.

Samples have been sent to the laboratory to determine the nature of the outbreak. The results should be available next week.

Members of the public should ring Healthline on 0800 611 116 if they require medical advice.

Good hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of this highly contagious illness. Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with warm soapy water then dry them for another 20 seconds.

For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph. 021 367 789

Last updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2013