UK Hospital hires bouncers due to norovirus

January 22, 2008

Hospital battles vomiting bug with bouncers By Anita Guidera

Wednesday January 23 2008

A hospital has been forced to hire security guards to keep visitors

out as it battles the winter vomiting bug.

Sligo General Hospital, pictured right, stepped up security measures

after members of the public ignored visitor restrictions imposed, two

weeks ago, after an outbreak of the contagious infection.

Visiting the busy hospital will now only be permitted under

" exceptional circumstances " and only to an immediate relative. In a

statement issued yesterday, the HSE confirmed that the highly

contagious Norovirus was still " prevalent " in the hospital.

" The doors of the hospital will be manned to only allow access to

relatives of patients who have been identified . . . as having

exceptional circumstances applying, " the statement added.

" Regrettably, despite media announcements, notices, signage at

entrances and in wards, the number of visitors has not decreased to

any noticeable extent. "

Any patient with a scheduled appointment has been told to attend as

normal.

Dr Fiona Kenny, consultant microbiologist at the hospital said the

precautions were necessary.

" It is important that members of the public work with us to help us

prevent further spread, " she added.

- Anita Guidera

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