SEVEN wards across Llandudno Community Hospital and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd were closed this week due to the infectious Norovirus.
The Llewelyn Ward at Llandudno Hospital was shut to new patients on Monday, making six beds unavilable, while at Glan Clwyd Hospital, 24 patients from five wards as well as the Ablett Ward, were affected.
The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are advising people with diarrhoea and vomiting to avoid visiting hospital patients for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have ended, and are encouraging all visitors to use the handrub provided to avoid spreading infection.
Anyone who is ill should call the ward or department before visiting for further advice and to allow appropriate arrangements to be made to reduce the risk to other patients.
The outbreak has so far forced closures at 15 wards across seven of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s North Wales hospitals.
A WATCHDOG staged an emergency meeting with health bosses last week to voice concerns over temporary service changes across North Wales.
The Betsi Cadwaladr Community Health Council met with health Board bosses to discuss the raft of recent closures, including the Minor Injuries Unit at Colwyn Bay Hospital, introduced to make savings and free up staff to cope with winter illness and injuries.
Pat Billingham, the CHC’s Chief Officer, said that the health council would now be monitoring the temporary closures in partnership with the health board.