news story

4th January 2008

Bristol Norovirus Outbreak Shows Hospitals Stretched to Breaking Point

Northavon MP Steve Webb has warned that local hospitals are "stretched to breaking point" following news that several wards at local hospitals have been closed due to an outbreak of the Norovirus bug.

The MP asked in Parliament before Christmas about the 'red alert' status of local hospitals and has learned that Frenchay and Southmead hospitals were on 'red alert' on several days during December.

On these occasions local GPs were encouraged not to refer patients to the hospitals because they were already full, a pattern that has occurred in previous winters because of similar virus outbreaks leading to over-full hospitals.

Lib Dem MP Steve Webb said:

"Even with two major local hospitals serving North Bristol and South Gloucestershire, the NHS is stretched to breaking point when a virus strikes. What will happen when Frenchay is closed and we have even fewer beds?

"It is madness to be taking bed capacity out of our local hospitals when they are already overstretched. Even in brand new hospitals there is a risk of viruses of this sort which can spread very easily.

"Running the health service at full capacity means there is no flexibility when problems strike, as they inevitably will".