HEALTH ALERT: Hospitals stretched as Sheffield hit by massive spike in Norovirus cases

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Hallamshire and Northern General hospitals, has been dealing with four times more cases of norovirus than expected.

The trust has been placed under ‘considerable pressure’ as a result of the spike in the vomiting bug.

A spokesman for the trust has urged people to stay away from hospitals if they have been unwell with norovirus in the last 72 hours.

The spokesman said: “We have a higher than normal number of norovirus cases and more patients who are staying in hospital longer than expected.

“We have opened an additional 37 beds to ensure we can accommodate the demand.

“If you have been unwell in the last 72 hours, please stay away from hospitals.”

For the full story, see The Star tomorrow.

For guidance on dealing with norovirus, visit: www.gov.uk/government/collections/norovirus-guidance-data-and-analysis