Visiting Restrictions Imposed at Dr Gray’s Hospital Following Diarrhoea and Vomiting Outbreak

NHS Grampian has implemented a suspension of visiting at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, following a reported outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting. The health authority confirmed that three wards have been closed to new patient admissions, with access for visitors restricted to essential cases only at the Moray facility. This measure follows a recent critical incident at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, during which a number of patients were transferred to Dr Gray’s to assist NHS Grampian in managing service demands. Over 50 individuals, including both patients and staff, have been impacted at the hospital, which has maintained an occupancy rate of 124% over the past week. Louise Pearson, Dr Gray’s duty manager, stated: “We have made this decision to protect patients, family members and staff until the situation is resolved.“We have taken the difficult decision to suspend non-essential visiting across the entire hospital in an effort to prevent any further spread.“We understand the vital support that family and friends provide and are sorry for how this will affect you.” Access to the site will be granted exclusively to essential visitors. This category encompasses parents of pediatric patients, relatives of individuals receiving end-of-life care, carers and supporters for those with dementia or learning disabilities, and supporters accompanying individuals for pregnancy and childbirth. Ms Pearson further commented: “We would assure the public that those facing life-threatening situations are continuing to be seen rapidly for life-saving treatment, as an absolute priority.” On Saturday, NHS Grampian concluded a critical incident during which ambulances were redirected to medical facilities located beyond its operational region. The board indicated that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) had experienced persistent and ongoing demands. Patients were transferred to Elgin and Dundee when deemed “clinically appropriate”. NHS Grampian reported that over the past week, the average occupancy rate at ARI stood at 111%, while Dr Gray’s in Elgin reached 124%. Both hospitals have maintained occupancy levels above 100% since September. The critical incident resulted in the postponement of certain elective procedures and appointments, though cancer treatments and diagnostic tests remained unaffected. Adam Coldwells, chief executive of NHS Grampian, expressed gratitude to health and social care personnel for their unwavering efforts throughout a “challenging situation”. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.