SIX wards and a bay at Royal Bournemouth Hospital have been closed following an outbreak of Norovirus.

Wards two, five, 25 and 26 were shut at the weekend in a bid to stop any further spread of the sickness and diarrhoea bug.

Yesterday, the hospital confirmed that wards four and 24 had also been closed along with a bay on ward 23.

Dr Mary Armitage, medical director for the Foundation Trust, told the Daily Echo: “While we regret the inconvenience and upset that restrictions on visiting can cause friends and relatives, this is essential to minimise the risk of infection spreading to patients in other parts of our hospital.

“The safety of our patients is paramount and the co-operation of the public is appreciated. We are following all national guidelines and staff are working extremely hard to ensure no further spread of the virus.”

She added: “We review the situation twice daily and will re-open the closed wards as soon as it is safe to do so and when they have been thoroughly cleaned as part of the ongoing deep cleaning programme.”

Next of kin who wish to visit patients in exceptional circumstances should phone the clinical leader on the ward concerned to discuss the situation.

Avonbourne elderly care ward at Poole Hospital remained closed to new admissions yesterday but was still open.

At Dorset County Hospital, where two elderly care wards are closed to new admissions, visitors are being advised not to visit if they have had vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 72 hours or suffered flu-like symptoms.

• For more guidance visit dorset.nhs.uk/