As of February 19, 2026, health officials are asking people in Basingstoke, Hampshire, to stay away from the local hospital if they have symptoms of norovirus. The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeing an increase in cases and wants to protect vulnerable patients from the spread of the winter vomiting bug.
To help stop the bug from spreading, anyone who has suffered from vomiting or diarrhoea must wait at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped before they visit loved ones at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Current rules allow two people to visit a patient at one time, but the trust has strictly prohibited flowers across its sites as a standard infection control measure. Residents should only come to the hospital in an actual emergency if they are feeling unwell with nausea or stomach issues.
For medical advice that is not an emergency, the trust is encouraging people to use the Pharmacy First service or contact their local GP. Health officials also suggest using the NHS 111 online service to get help without needing to visit the hospital in person.
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