The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is asking members of the public to avoid visiting its hospitals if they are experiencing symptoms of norovirus. The urgent appeal, issued on 2 April 2026, aims to protect patients and staff from the highly contagious vomiting bug at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Health officials advise that anyone with symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, or flu-like feelings should stay away from hospital wards for at least 48 hours after they have fully recovered. This precautionary measure is intended to prevent the spread of the virus to vulnerable patients, for whom the illness can be particularly dangerous.
The NHS has highlighted the importance of proper hand hygiene during this time. Residents are reminded that standard alcohol-based hand gels are not effective against norovirus. Instead, visitors and staff are encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water to help break the chain of infection.
The trust, which serves nearly half a million people across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and mid Wales, is managing these ongoing visitor restrictions as part of a wider effort to maintain safety. Nationally, health services have been monitoring the virus closely, with data from early 2026 showing significant pressure from the illness across hospital wards in England.
Additional guidance on managing the virus and preventing its spread is available from the UK Health Security Agency and the NHS websites.
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