THREE wards at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon have closed to inpatient admissions following an outbreak of winter vomiting virus. The wards affected by Norovirus are Walnut, Spruce and Pear Tree. A spokesman for Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Tru

THREE wards at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon have closed to inpatient admissions following an outbreak of winter vomiting virus.

The wards affected by Norovirus are Walnut, Spruce and Pear Tree.

A spokesman for Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust said the situation is being reviewed daily by the trust's infection control team to assess when the wards can reopen.

There is no visiting to the affected wards without prior permission of ward staff.

It is possible the virus was brought to the hospital by a visitor and anyone who has been ill with diarrhoea or vomiting is asked to stay away. Children are also not allowed to visit the hospital as the virus is particularly active in schools.

Outpatient appointments will remain unaffected and patients brought to Accident and Emergency as emergency cases will be seen.

Liz Pointing, director of nursing, midwifery and operations at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, said: "The most effective way that the public can help us to help our patients is by not visiting affected wards and by following the restrictions we are putting in place with regards to visiting patients.

"We are looking at the situation every day and hope to be able to deep clean the affected wards and reopen them as soon as possible. Our staff have been working incredibly hard to control this outbreak.