The Trust, which oversees Hillingdon Hospital in Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge and Mount Vernon Hospital in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, told the Gazette it had recently seen a high number of patients admitted with Norovirus.

Norovirus is an extremely infectious viral diarrhoea and/or vomiting (D&V) condition that is common during the winter months and, if brought into hospital, can spread rapidly through patients and staff causing disruption to the day-to-day running of services. 

One ward at Hillingdon Hospital has been closed to prevent the spread of viral D&V, with a number of patients in the affected ward suffering from the illness.

Temporary visiting restrictions have also been put in place. Jackie Walker, acting Director of Nursing at the trust, said: “We understand the effect that restricted visiting has on patients and their families but our main priority must always be the safety of our patients."People with symptoms of D&V should not visit the hospital or attend appointments until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.”

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has given a number of points of advice to anyone who may be suffering from Norovirus:

-Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before you handle food.
-Norovirus is unpleasant but rarely serious for healthy people and most will recover naturally without treatment.
-Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration 
-Stay at home and let the illness run its course.
-Do not visit your GP surgery, health centre or local A&E unit.
-Do not visit friends or relatives in hospital or residential care homes as Norovirus can easily spread
-People with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice if their symptoms last more than 48 hours, or if they have a pre-existing medical condition. If patients have concerns they should call their GP or NHS  Direct 
-Stay away from work or school until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours
-The elderly and the very young can sometimes get more severe infection or become dehydrated. If that should be the case, they or their family, friends or carers, should telephone their GP service or NHS Direct for advice.
-Do not handle or prepare food for other people until you have been symptom free for a minimum period of 48 hours