There are top tips to being a responsible visitor and helping to prevent the spread of infection.

Please respect the hospital's policy on visiting, especially if restrictions have been put in place;

• only two visitors should be at each bedside at any one time;

• visitors should adhere to the ward visiting times and seek the advice of the ward staff if unable to do so;

• always wash hands with soap and water in areas where there is diarrhoea and vomiting;

• wash or gel hands regularly. Gel can found at the patient bedside where it works more effectively;

• always wash your hands after using the toilet;

• please feel free to ask hospital staff if they have washed or used alcohol gel to clean their hands;

• talk to staff if you are concerned about the cleanliness of the ward or if you find facilities, such as public toilets, which require attention;

• please do not sit on patient beds, please use the chairs provided;

• please do not use patient toilets - separate facilities are available for visitors;

• any food brought in should be kept covered to reduce the risk of contamination. Items such as wrapped sweets are preferable to open boxes. Check with ward staff when bringing in food items;

• DO NOT visit if you are feeling unwell with sickness, diarrhoea, fever, sore throat or flu. Patients are more vulnerable to infection;

• if you have experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting, you should not visit for a minimum of 72hrs after symptoms have stopped.

• spread of infections such as Norovirus both inside and outside the hospital.