Wards Closures Trigger Bug Fear

The number of hospital wards being shut because of the winter vomiting bug is already higher than the whole of last year.

Nine wards in Scottish health boards, including Fife, have shut so far this year, that's higher than at any point last winter.

79 patients have caught the bug, which is spread quickly and can be fatal for elderly or vulnerable people.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw MSP said:
 
"It's extremely worrying that the norovirus season appears to be taking hold so early.
 
"It feels like we're barely out of summertime and already wards are being closed by an infection which thrives in the dead of winter.
 
"The Scottish Government has been ill-equipped for this challenge in previous years, and the fact it set out an intention to cut the budget for conquering it is very worrying indeed.
 
"For many the winter vomiting bug is a mild inconvenience, but for more vulnerable patients it can be lethal.
 
"It's critically important the Scottish Government and the NHS get themselves together now to ensure the position doesn’t worsen as the climate gets colder."

Dr Keith Morris from NHS Fife is telling us that incident rates fluctuate every year: