VISITORS are now allowed back onto all but one of Hinchingbrooke Hospital s wards, but they will be turned away if they refuse to wash their hands as they enter. Only Cedar Ward remains closed because of the outbreak of the diarrhoea and vomiting bug Noro

VISITORS are now allowed back onto all but one of Hinchingbrooke Hospital's wards, but they will be turned away if they refuse to wash their hands as they enter.

Only Cedar Ward remains closed because of the outbreak of the diarrhoea and vomiting bug Norovirus, but stringent hygiene measures are being enforced on patients and visitors, as well as staff, in a bid to prevent more cases.

The hospital yesterday had three cases of the virus, two of them recurrences from last week.

Visitors are told not to go to the hospital if they have had diarrhoea and vomiting in the previous 48 hours, not to take children because the virus is often present in schools, not to sit on beds and to wash their hands.

"Visitors are part of the recovery process," said hospital spokesman and human resources director Karen Charman.

"But we shall continue to take maximum precautions.

"Anybody coming onto a ward without washing their hands is challenged - and not just by staff. Patients and visitors challenge them, too. If somebody refuses, they are not allowed in.