Wards closed after virus outbreak

Four wards at Taunton's Musgrove Park hospital have been closed to new admissions after an outbreak of the highly-infectious norovirus.

People should also avoid visiting the hospital if they have had symptoms including diarrhoea or vomiting in the previous 72 hours.

The restrictions affect Coleridge, Fielding, Gould and Conservators wards.

It is the third time in as many months that the virus has affected patients at the Somerset hospital.

Medical Director Dr Cecil Blumgart said "We know that visitors can make a real difference to patients, who look forward to seeing them.

"Unfortunately we also know that, without meaning to, visitors can bring bugs into the hospital that can cause harm to patients and once here are very difficult to control.

"We are introducing these new measures to take a firmer grip on the norovirus that we currently have in the hospital. People should not visit unless they really need to and if they do, must comply with these restrictions."