MILLIONS face being struck down by a deadly winter
vomiting bug sweeping the country.
Scores of hospitals have been forced to close wards to new
patients as they struggle to cope with the influx of norovirus
sufferers.
One of London’s leading hospitals has even had to turn away 999
emergency patients after being overwhelmed with cases of the virus,
while another hospital has drafted in GPs to cover for staff hit by
the bug.
As the crisis deepens, health campaigners are warning that
hospitals face going into “complete meltdown” over Christmas and
New Year.
Last year more than three million people were struck down by the
bug as it reached epidemic levels. Now experts are warning that the
virus could affect even more this year.
It appears to be taking hold much earlier than usual.
Last night the Health Protection Agency warned that it was
expecting the number of cases to escalate.
Geoff Martin, of the campaign group Health Emergency, said:
“Christmas and New Year are a notoriously busy time and the fact
that hospitals can’t cope already is very, very ominous. Winter and
Christmas are always extremely difficult for hospitals.
“People giving germs to each other means more flu, the
cold weather means a lot more respiratory problems, especially for
the elderly, and everyone’s out drinking a lot so there are more
injuries that way, too.
“The busiest period is still two weeks away and it is evident that
hospitals can’t cope.
“If the Secretary of State for Health does not do something about
this, there could be a complete meltdown and a full-blown
crisis.
“It would be the worst I have seen in five or six years.”
At its height last year the virus, which causes projectile
vomiting, diarrhoea, mild fever and headaches, was striking down
more than 200,000 a week. The illness can prove deadly for the
vulnerable – children and the elderly.
So far there have been 1,575 reported cases since July but
officials fear the figure could be 100 times higher as most
sufferers do not report it. St George’s hospital, one of London’s
three major trauma centres, was forced to turn away ambulances last
Monday because it had run out of beds.
Hospital chiefs said they had suffered a 14 per cent surge in
demand over the weekend, compared to the same time last year.
Patients had to be diverted to neighbouring hospitals, all of which
have reported serious pressure on their capacities.
A survey by the Daily Express found that hospitals across the
country were, on average, each shutting off between eight and nine
wards to new admissions and visitors.
At least 21 hospitals have had to isolate patients.
Last week the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital closed all its 49
wards because of the virus, which had directly affected 12 wards
including the isolation unit. Three wards at Gloucester Royal
hospital were closed last Friday following a norovirus
outbreak.
GPs were being drafted in to fill in for affected staff and
admissions were slowed because of a shortage of beds.
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire lost about 130 beds,
or 12 per cent of its capacity, when it sealed off six wards
in an attempt to stop the bug spreading.
In the Midlands, Coventry’s University hospital closed seven wards,
while George Elliot hospital in Nuneaton lost the use of three
wards and four staff were struck down.
A Department of Health spokesman said: “Hospitals will have plans
for dealing with the virus.
“We know wards have been closed to admissions. This will help to
control outbreaks.”
