Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin continuing to battle sickness outbreak as non-essential visits remain off the table
Visiting restrictions at a north-east hospital are continuing this week as a sickness outbreak is managed.
Non-essential visits to Dr Gray’s in Elgin have been postponed throughout December as teams manage an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting.
Lead nurse Helen Chisholm acknowledged that restrictions - which are expected to be reviewed again soon - are “disappointing” for friends and families who have a loved one at the hospital.
She said: “We know this news will be disappointing to the wider community.
“We continue to take a very cautious approach considering how widely norovirus and similar illnesses are circulating in the community.
“We will keep this under regular review.”
Essential visits will be supported in a number of cases.
• When someone is reaching the end of their life
• If someone has dementia/ delirium and needs family support
• Support for someone with a learning disability
• A family member who has caring responsibilities
• Parents of a child in hospital
• Support during pregnancy and childbirth, including outpatient appointments, ante-natal and post-natal care
• Situations where someone is receiving life-changing information
• Those with acquired communication difficulties, e.g. stroke, aphasia, learning difficulties, or non-diagnosed learning disability with communication challenges
