Ward closed at Grimsby hospital after outbreak of sickness bug

A ward has been closed at Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital due to an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting.

The Amethyst ward has been completely closed to new admissions and transfers.

Patients from the ward will not be discharged to nursing or residential homes while they remain an infection risk.

Dr Peter Cowling, trust consultant microbiologist said:”This type of illness does come into the hospital from time to time, as in other hospitals across the country, and that is why we have a robust infection control policy in place to deal with such eventualities.

“This illness lasts about 24 hours and, although unpleasant, very rarely causes serious medical problems.”

The infection prevention and control team will review the situation daily.

Frequent disinfection is being carried out to contain the outbreak.

This is the second ward at hospitals run by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust to have been closed this week.

Ward 24 at Scunthorpe hospital which was closed last week is expected to reopen tomorrow.