TOUGH restrictions have been imposed on visiting patients at York Hospital following an outbreak of norovirus.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has enforced restricted visiting for only the second time in its history 'in order to ensure the safety of patients and staff.'

A spokeswoman said: "This is only the second time that the hospital has enforced restricted visiting.

"It has been urging people not to visit the hospital if they have been unwell; however the decision has been made to restrict visiting as it has not been possible to contain the virus as it keeps being brought back into the hospital from the community."

Chief Nurse Beverley Geary said: “Over the past few weeks we have experienced a high level of norovirus at York Hospital which has resulted in the closure of wards in order to stop the spread, which means we have reduced bed capacity.

"Closing wards can help to contain the virus but visitors play a huge part in preventing the continued spread of the infection.

“The safety of our patients is our top priority. While we recognise the importance of having people visit when you are in hospital, we now need to introduce these measures in order to protect our patients, as well as keeping our staff safe, well and able to come into work.

“The situation will be reviewed on a daily basis and as soon as it is safe to do, we will lift the restrictions. Signs have been displayed throughout the hospital informing people of the restrictions and the information is on the homepage of the Trust’s website.

"We would ask people to respect the decision and to treat our staff, who will be enforcing the visiting restrictions, with courtesy and respect.”

The spokeswoman said visiting would only be allowed in exceptional circumstances, for example patients in Intensive Care, the Children’s Ward, Maternity and patients receiving End of Life Care.

"Most people recover within one or two days from norovirus, however if symptoms persist (more than 48 hours), the advice is not to come to the Emergency Department but to phone the GP or NHS 111."