HEALTH bosses are keeping their fingers crossed that they are close to waving a final goodbye to a persistent winter bug which has dogged them into the summer.

Staff at York Hospital are continuing to battle the effects of norovirus, which causes severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea and has blighted the Wigginton Road site for months longer than expected.

But after weeks of wards having to be fully closed, just one bay – containing several beds – is now being cordoned off due to the impact of the infection.

The hospital’s management hopes that, once it reopens, the highly-contagious bug will not return.

Norovirus affected the hospital over the winter but then vanished, only to suddenly and unexpectedly return at the beginning of last month when it caused five wards – and a total of 27 beds – to be shut.

Staff were unable to work after showing symptoms and a plea being sent out to visitors from York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help combat its spread.

Since then, the extent of the bug’s impact has fluctuated, but the current situation – which has left the affected bay closed for the last two days – means its grip has been looser than at any point since it reappeared.

However, while the problem remains, visitors are being asked not to visit the hospital if they are unwell or until they have been clear of the symptoms for at least 48 hours, not to visit if a ward is closed, and not to bring children onto the site.

The trust’s chief nurse, Libby McManus, said: “We have one bay on one ward still closed due to suspected norovirus, which we hope to reopen soon.

“We are grateful to staff for their efforts in reducing the spread of this infection and also to visitors, who have taken our advice on board.

“However, it is important that people follow these measures and have good hand hygiene practices at all times, not only when norovirus is present in the hospital.”

Visitors can call the hospital in advance to find out if a particular ward or bay is open and have been warned that, if a closure is in place, visits will not be allowed except in special circumstances.

More advice and information about norovirus is available by logging onto the trust’s website at www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk