COMMUNICATIONS

Advice to all hospital and rest home visitors

Following an article in The Press newspaper today (Saturday 1 July), the Canterbury District Health Board would like to reassure the public that norovirus is not a problem at The Princess Margaret Hospital or any other CDHB hospitals at the moment.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Mel Brieseman said, "there were outbreaks of the illness in Christchurch Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital in May but very careful procedures were followed to ensure that the outbreaks were brought under control and people were not sent back to their own homes or rest homes, while there was any risk of them transmitting the infection."

Dr Brieseman said, however, that anyone planning to visit a friend or relative in a hospital or rest home should carefully consider whether they are a risk or at risk of illness. He said reported outbreaks of norovirus in two Christchurch rest homes would most likely have started with visitors or staff taking the illness into the homes. "Norovirus is frequently in the community, particularly at this time of year, and these outbreaks certainly can't be directly linked to the outbreaks at PMH and Christchurch Hospital more than a month ago."

"Visitors or staff who may feel just a little off colour take the virus into the hospital or rest home where it spreads among residents and staff. Whether you have a stomach upset, a cold or any other infectious illness, the message, until you are completely well, is stay away from rest homes and hospitals where people are frail," Dr Brieseman said.

Ends.

Michele Hider
Communications Manager