Southland Hospital Medical and Surgical wards are open to visitors from Tuesday 10 October

Attributable to Hamish Brown, Te Whatu Ora Group Director of Operations for Southern

Southland Hospital’s medical and surgical wards are now open for again to visitors. Visiting hours can be found on the Southern website here.

These wards were temporarily closed on Thursday 5 October to protect patients and staff due to several cases of gastroenteritis in the hospital.

Please do not visit your loved ones in hospital if you have gastroenteritis symptoms. We thank our community for helping us keep our patients safe.

Gastroenteritis can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea and is often highly infectious. If you have symptoms, it is important to stay home, away from work, school or childcare, until 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea. To reduce your risk of catching or spreading gastroenteritis, wash your hands well after using the bathroom or changing nappies, and before eating or preparing food.

If you have gastroenteritis symptoms and need medical help, please reach out to your GP or pharmacist. You can also call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice. If it is an emergency call 111, or come to the Emergency Department.

ENDS