Àmbulance diverted after vomiting bug outbreak
Ambulances were today being diverted away from a Dublin hospital as an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug spread to nearly half of its wards.
Two in three ambulances destined for Beaumont hospital were being sent to other hospitals as the number of patients confirmed to have the bug rose to 23.
Elective procedures including operations were cancelled as a result of the outbreak and the Accident and Emergency department was badly affected, a hospital spokesman said.
Visitors were being advised to stay away from the hospital unless absolutely necessary, and patients were asked to visit their GP instead of Beaumont Hospital A&E where possible.
Hospital spokesman John Stanley said cases had been confirmed in patients on eight of Beaumont’s 19 wards, and that symptoms were being displayed in patients on another eight.
“We are urging people to stay away from hospital if at all possible,” he said.
“Winter vomiting bug would very rarely be considered to be very serious but then every illness has to be taken seriously.”
He said there were no signs of an end to the current outbreak, with another 20 patients displaying symptoms.
