Health workers tackle Norovirus

Tracy Gill, the HR manager at Domestic and General on how staff in Nottingham are being made aware of the norovirus.

Staff at the Nottingham CityCare Partnership have urged people to maintain good standards of cleanliness ahead of a new awareness campaign that aims to prevent winter vomiting bug Norovirus. Sarah Kirkwood, who is Director of Operations Nursing, spoke to ITV News Central about preventing the bug.

A campaign to tackle the spread of Norovirus has been launched in Nottingham.

Each year, the virus costs the NHS £100million a year, and affects thousands of people, but simple steps like cleaning surfaces and washing hands can stop the spread.

Domestic and General is one business in Nottingham that is making its staff aware of the campaign.

• Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water - particularly after going to the toilet, before preparing or eating food, and after changing a baby's nappy
• Do not use dirty cutlery
• Do not allow raw food to come into contact with cooked food

• Ensure all food is thoroughly cooked, especially meat and shellfish
• Avoid contact with anyone suffering from the virus for two to three days after they are completely free of symptoms

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be contracted in a number of ways:

• Direct contact with people who have the virus
• Touching contaminated objects
• Touching dirty or unwashed objects
• Raw or undercooked food, especially meat and shellfish

Health workers in Nottingham are hoping to stop winter vomiting bug Norovirus in its tracks this year with a major new awareness campaign.

Staff at the Nottingham CityCare Partnership will be issuing information about how the bug is caught, how to prevent it, and what to do when you have it.

Norovirus is highly contagious and puts the NHS under great strain during the winter months.

Not only does it involve more people going into hospital, it often means wards have to be closed to admissions and visitors to try to control the spread.