Visitors have been told to stay away from Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli due to an ongoing scabies outbreak that has been affecting members of the public for months. The restriction was introduced to limit the spread of the highly contagious skin infestation.
Restrictions and affected services
People have been told that visiting loved ones at the hospital is now “restricted” due to the outbreak. A “number of cases are currently being managed in healthcare and community settings across the Hywel Dda (University Health Board) area”, which includes Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion as well as Carmarthenshire.
The health board has not confirmed which wards are shut off or if any particular wards are more badly affected than others. As well as visitors, patients with planned appointments at the hospital may be affected by the restrictions, with health bosses saying they will aim to contact people “as soon as possible”.
What is scabies?
According to the NHS, scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites. The main symptoms are intense itching, especially at night, and/or a raised rash or spots on the skin. While the infestation is not usually associated with serious illness, it is highly contagious and normally spread through skin-to-skin contact or shared bedding or clothing.
In June, a ward at another Carmarthenshire hospital – Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen – was closed following an outbreak of scabies, and there was an “increased prevalence” of infestation in the area.
Health board response
Confirming the new restrictions, Sharon Daniel, executive director of nursing, quality, and patient experience at Hywel Dda, said: “We have taken the decision to restrict visitors to Prince Philip Hospital today to limit the spread of scabies on our site and in our community.
“A number of wards are currently closed due to infection and we need the support and understanding of our communities to limit further spread. We are taking direct action to treat patients, staff, and contacts, and undertake deep cleaning of our wards, in line with infection prevention control measures.
“Scabies is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate and we are grateful to everyone for their continued support. We will be contacting individuals whose planned care appointments may be impacted by this as soon as possible. This does not impact services provided by the minor injury unit.”
