A WARD at Malton Hospital has been closed to new admissions following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

Visitors are being asked to stay away from the hospital if they have been unwell and until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is appealing for public support to help prevent the spread of norovirus, the winter vomiting bug.

Medical director Alastair Turnbull said: “We are asking for the public’s support and request that if you have been unwell or have any symptoms of tummy upset that you exercise caution and do not visit patients in the hospital.

“The trust has a great record in infection control practices, but we need your help to protect our most vulnerable patients. Norovirus can be a very unpleasant illness and is one of the most infectious viruses known.

“We have had to close limited areas and may need to put in place stricter visiting controls to affected areas in order to protect both our patients and staff.”

He added: “If you are a visitor we ask that you follow guidance, which includes always washing your hands with soap and water before and after visiting and use the hand sanitiser gel.”

Ambulances were left queuing outside York Hospital on Monday and five wards were closed to new admissions due to the outbreak.