Scottish hospitals ‘forced to close 53 wards’

Around 53 hospital wards in Scotland have been closed to new admissions due to the spread of a winter vomiting bug, it has been reported.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has revealed that novovirus is responsible for the closures and added that 383 patients and 128 of its employees have contracted the bug so far, informed the Scotsman.

NHS Lothian has witnessed the most cases, while a total of ten associations, including Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, have been affected.

According to the country’s health minister Nicola Sturgeon, the incident is a common occurrence for this time of year and appears to be no more severe than it has been in the past.

She explained: “The number of ward closures is currently higher than the same time last year, but around the same as the previous winter.”

In other NHS news this week, a report published by the Nuffield Trust concluded that the healthcare body in England is more productive and spends less money than its counterparts in other UK countries.