NHS hospital hit by bug scare forced to cancel operations

Scarborough Hospital's stroke unit is also being temporarily moved to Johnson Ward at Bridlington Hospital during the outbreak, which has forced trust bosses to open an isolation ward at Scarborough Hospital.

Between April 2009 and now there had been 97 cases of the bug. But the weekly figure for last week was four new cases, requiring infection control measures.

Chief executive Richard Sunley added: "Patient safety must remain our first priority. Our infection control team has been working with the local health protection agency to minimise the risk to patients and help us prevent and further spread of this infection.

"I would urge patients, relatives and visitors to adhere to strict hygiene control measures when coming into hospital – hand washing with soap and water is the best way to help prevent this infection spreading to other people."

The move follows a rise in cases of C Difficile, which normally does not cause problems in healthy people but can be a problem when antibiotics affect the balance of organisms in the intestines.

Symptoms include mild to severe diarrhoea and, rarely, life threatening inflammation of the intestines. Other effects can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain.

Mr Sunley said the Trust was adopting a range of measures, including deep cleaning work which will involve postponing some operations this week.

Soap and water is more effective than alcohol gels with C Difficile and visitors are urged to wash their hands regularly.