Southland Hospital Medical and Surgical wards closed to visitors

Attributable to Simon Donlevy, General Manager, Southland Hospital

Southland Hospital’s medical and surgical wards are temporarily closed to visitors to protect patients and staff due to several cases of gastroenteritis in the hospital.

Visiting on compassionate grounds can be discussed with the Change Nurse Manager.

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.

Please do not visit your loved ones in hospital if you have gastroenteritis symptoms.

If you have gastroenteritis symptoms and need medical help, please reach out to your GP or pharmacist. If it is an emergency call 111 or come to the Emergency Department.

There is no evidence that this is related to the current Queenstown cryptosporidium outbreak.

We will provide an update once these wards are open again to visitors.

We thank our community for helping us keep our patients safe.

ENDS