OHNs called on to wards to help fight norovirus

This winter saw a record five million people infected with the norovirus stomach bug, putting hospitals under such pressure that in some trusts OH nurses were even called in to work on wards.

Statistics from the Health Protection Agency suggested the number of cases peaked during the second week of January, with the agency confirming 3,534 cases since July. For every reported case, it is estimated that at least 1,500 go unreported.

The pressure has been such on wards and beds that some OH nurses have complained of being forced to help out on wards.

One nurse, writing on the Joint Information Systems Committee (Jiscmail) website, said: “We were asked to work on the wards last year (I say ‘asked’ loosely as it actually became compulsory), however, those nurses with medical history – ie of musculoskeletal [problems] – were exempt.”

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Have you been put under pressure to work on wards this winter? Contact Occupational Health in confidence at [email protected]