Wards closed over vomiting virus

Five wards at the hospital have been affected by the outbreak

A Lancashire hospital has closed five wards to new admissions because of an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The move comes after the highly contagious norovirus broke out at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.

Hospital bosses are restricting admissions to the wards and asking relatives not to visit patients unless it is absolutely necessary.

Symptoms of the bug, which is spread through contaminated surfaces, include sickness and diarrhoea.

The illness is not usually dangerous and people usually recover fully within two to three days.

Sue Reed, nursing director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We would like to reassure patients that we are doing all we can to minimise the outbreak.

"However, the local community can play their part to help.

"Anyone experiencing these symptoms should not visit the hospital.

"All visiting should be kept to an absolute minimum, especially to those wards which already have a known outbreak, during this period."