Brooklands care home in Derry closed due to norovirus outbreak

A care home in Londonderry has been forced to close to the public following an outbreak of norovirus. 

Brooklands residential home on the Northland Road has been temporarily closed to visitors. 

Some of the care home's elderly residents and staff members were first diagnosed with the winter vomiting illness last week. 

Six wards in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area have already been affected by the outbreak. 

Altnagelvin Hospital has been forced to close five wards, while the Waterside Hospital has closed one ward to new admissions. 

The Western Trust has implemented a number of increased infection control measures in an effort to restrict the spread of the illness. 

They include limiting the unnecessary movement of staff between wards, isolating symptomatic patients and wearing protective clothing. 

A spokesperson for The Trust said:

"If you’re visiting loved ones in the hospital we’d remind you to thoroughly wash your hands before and after visiting. Visitors should visit only one patient whilst at the hospital, refrain from sitting on hospital beds and not move from ward to ward when visiting.

"Please also think carefully before coming to the Emergency Department unless your condition is serious and urgent. There are other services available such as Minor Injuries, GP or GP Out of Hours and Pharmacies that can help you, so please think carefully and choose the right one for your condition."

Altnagelvin Hospital recently launched a plan to help alleviate pressures on the service this winter.