'Desperate' Kings Mill Hospital issues warning after winter vomiting bug outbreak

A Nottinghamshire hospital has advised members of the public to avoid their A&E department after an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug. Kings Mill, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, has closed one of its wards after nine people were struck down with the sickness.

Only people with a life-threatening condition or serious injury should attend, Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, which runs the hospital, said. Those who do attend risk contracting the virus - official name norovirus - which typically leads to vomiting and diarrhoea over one or two days.

In addition, those who attend the hospital also face "significant delays", the trust said, after saying on Monday, November 25, that it was treating double the number of patients than it was designed to treat at any one time. The problem has continued through Tuesday and Wednesday, with many patients waiting more than 12 hours in the department.

Sherwood Forest Chief Nurse Phil Bolton said: “Our emergency department is here for you if you need treatment for a serious injury or a life-threatening condition, but demand for our services has significantly increased this week and our hardworking NHS staff desperately need the public’s help to manage the pressures they are facing.

“While winter is always one of the busiest times of year for our hospitals, the pressures we have seen this week are not usually seen until much later in winter, which is a real concern. Norovirus is one of the most common winter vomiting bugs that we see at this time of year but we have not seen this many cases since the pandemic, when the virus largely disappeared while our social contact drastically reduced.

“In most cases, people don’t need to come to hospital for treatment for norovirus, with most people being able to manage their symptoms at home by getting plenty of rest and taking lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.