AN outbreak of a superbug has closed the ward at Selby War Memorial Hospital.

Clostridium difficile (C-Diff) was suspected in two patients on the hospital’s one ward.

Since then the hospital has been closed to new inpatient admissions and a limit put on the number of people allowed to visit.

Outpatient services have not been affected, but in-patients have had to go to nearby hospitals.

Selby War Memorial Hospital hopes to accept new in-patients early next week.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services said: “Two patients who were received on the ward at Selby War Memorial presented with symptoms relating to the C-Diff bacterial infection.

“Of the two patients only one was confirmed as having the infection.

Strict infection control protocols were subsequently put in place which included being nursed in a single room, closing the ward to new admissions and limiting the number of patient visits.”

Following the discovery an enhanced deep-clean programme was started.

In total there are 24 beds on the ward.

Patients unaffected by the superbug were discharged as soon as they were ready.

The individual found to have C-Diff was treated with antibiotics and is recovering.