KEY POINTS:
Dunedin Hospital has been struck with another outbreak of suspected norovirus forcing it to close a ward.
The hospital is also in a "code black" alert, experiencing high urgent demand, with few beds available and some patients having to wait on stretchers in the emergency department for a bed in a ward.
Five patients and one staff member are suspected of having the highly contagious norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Last month, almost 200 patients and staff fell ill with norovirus, more than 2000 elective procedures and outpatient appointments were postponed and the hospital was "locked down" for one week with no visitors allowed.
Infection prevention and control charge nurse Jo Stodart said the orthopaedic surgery ward had been closed as soon as staff had got on to the present outbreak.
"I think staff are taking it more seriously," she told the Otago Daily Times.
"People know what to do. Cleaning is already in place and the food service know exactly what to do."
Otago District Health Board operations manager Megan Boivin said it was unfortunate the hospital was experiencing such high demand and the outbreak at the same time.
Some surgeries had been postponed.
"We are constantly reassessing the situation and taking all steps possible to safely discharge patients to free up beds," Ms Boivin told the paper.
"We realise the postponements will be upsetting for the patients involved and apologise for the inconvenience, but we need to have staff available to cover our urgent workload."
Tests results confirming if it was norovirus were expected in a week.
- NZPA
