Norovirus: Children banned from Northumbria hospital visits Published duration 13 December 2018

image copyright Google image caption The restrictions come into force at nine hospitals, including North Tyneside General Hospital, on Friday

Children under 12 are being banned from visiting patients in nine hospitals as part of a raft of restrictions to fight rising rates of norovirus.

Northumbria Healthcare said the restrictions should stop the illness reaching "critical numbers".

In January, a number of wards were closed completely to visitors because of the virus.

Health chiefs said the stomach bug is "more than just unpleasant" and can be deadly to vulnerable patients.

The restrictions, which come into force at 09:00 GMT on Friday, are:

No visiting children under 12 at any time

Visiting is restricted on all inpatient wards at all sites to between 14:00 to 15:00 and 18:30 to 19:30

In birthing centre and maternity units - outside of the hours above - visiting is restricted to birthing partners only

In paediatrics - outside of the hours above - visiting is restricted to parents or legal guardians only

Only one visitor per patient is permitted in the emergency department or ambulatory care at any time

No more than two visitors per patient on any ward at any time

Marion Dickson, the trust's interim executive director of nursing and midwifery, said: "This is a decision we have taken after very careful consideration and is based on hard lessons learned from last year.

"Absolutely no-one wants to stop people seeing their loved ones when they are in hospital, we know, often first-hand, how important it is.

"However, the safety of our patients is our overriding priority."

The restrictions apply to:

Alnwick Infirmary

Berwick Infirmary

Blyth Community Hospital

Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital

Hexham General Hospital

North Tyneside General Hospital

The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital

The Whalton Unit

Wansbeck General Hospital