Visiting remains limited this weekend due to norovirus

Spring may have sprung but norovirus is still prevalent across Scotland and continues to affects wards in the Scottish Borders.

All wards have reopened in the Borders General Hospital in advance of the bank holiday weekend however one bay at Haylodge Hospital in Peebles remains closed due to confirmed norovirus.

The situation is being managed by NHS Borders Infection Prevention and Control Team with support from frontline colleagues.

Evelyn Rodger, NHS Borders Director of Nursing and Midwifery said: “Although the Borders General Hospital currently has no ward closures this can very change quickly. In order to safeguard vulnerable patients and enable us to limit the spread of this highly infectious virus, members of the public are being asked not to visit relatives and friends at the BGH this weekend unless absolutely necessary.

“The hospital can be very busy at the weekends with visitors. In order to control the spread of Norovirus we urge the public to comply with our request and to stay away from the hospital. The D&V illness is usually over within 48 hrs, but is highly infectious, which is why NHS Borders needs to limit the number of people moving in and out of the hospital. The last time we issued a request of this nature the co-operation from the public was incredibly helpful, and we would be most grateful once again for people to take our advice and please stay away.”

If visiting this weekend is absolutely necessary, visits should be limited to two visitors per patient at any one time and visits with children are actively discouraged.