Walsall Manor Hospital suspends visits due to norovirus
All wards at Walsall Manor Hospital have been closed to visitors following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is urging people to avoid visiting patients unless it is "absolutely necessary".
A trust spokeswoman said: "This temporary measure is to contain the virus on wards already affected."
Outpatient appointments are continuing unless patients have recently been affected by the virus.
Sue Hartley, nurse director for the trust, said the decision had been made to protect the health of patients and staff.
'Sickness and diarrhoea'
Ms Hartley said: "Immediate family will only be allowed into critical care areas.
"In maternity, just the named birthing partner will be granted access, whilst in paediatrics, immediate parents or designated carers only are allowed to visit.
"We will review this decision daily.
"For those with outpatient appointments this week, we would strongly advise that if they have experienced sickness and diarrhoea in the last 48 hours to consider rearranging their appointments - otherwise they should attend as planned."
The hospital banned visitors for a period during last February while a ward was completely closed in December because of similar outbreaks.