Hospitals in England have been forced to close more than 1,100 beds in the past week due to a severe outbreak of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug. This is nearly double the number of bed closures for the same reason last year. The number of norovirus cases in mid-November is 28% higher than the five-year average for this time of year.
Professor Steve Powis, NHS England's medical director, warned that cases are likely to rise further. Southampton General Hospital has been battling an outbreak for over a month, initially closing 32 beds across five wards. It now has one ward closed to new admissions and bays closed on two others. The hospital has implemented enhanced cleaning and advised patients and visitors to stay away if symptomatic.
Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading has shut four wards to contain the spread. Professor Nick Phin of Public Health England noted that while cases are higher than expected, this is not unprecedented. The outbreaks add pressure to an NHS facing what many predict will be its toughest winter in years, with bed numbers at record lows.
NHS chiefs urge the public to reduce spread by staying off work or school for at least 48 hours after symptoms, washing hands with soap and water, and avoiding hospitals or GP surgeries if infected, instead calling NHS 111. Flu is also circulating, with five hospitals reporting outbreaks and infection rates rising from 2.85 to 4.31 per 100,000 people in a week.
The Royal College of Nursing warned that bed numbers are reaching unsustainably low levels. Helen Donovan, RCN professional lead, highlighted that nursing staff often fall victim to norovirus, exacerbating staffing shortages, as affected staff must remain off duty for 48 hours after symptoms cease.
