PATIENTS suspected of suffering from the winter vomiting bug are being asked to stay away from hospitals to stop the spread of the infectious disease.
Last year Barnet Hospital was forced to close wards to visitors after patients became infected with the illness, known as norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
People showing these symptoms, which last from 12 to 60 hours, are urged not to go out or visit friends or family to prevent it spreading.
Dr Andrew Burnett, medical director for NHS Barnet said: “Our local hospitals work very hard to ensure that bugs can’t spread from patient to patient, or ward to ward.
“However these efforts can be in vain if someone comes into hospital as a visitor while still carrying a bug such as norovirus.” The advice for anyone suffering from the problem is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, and anyone with underlying health problems or the elderly should call but not visit their GP for help.
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