HOSPITALS in Gloucestershire lost an average of more than 500 bed da ys a week to norovirus since last November, new figures reveal.
A BBC Freedom of Information request shows that Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust lost an average of 527 beds a week in comparison to an average of 28.6 for hospital trusts across England.
Although the virulent bug spreads extremely quickly once it arrives in hospital, it only lasts for between 48 and 72 hours and the outbreak is currently confined to ward 7A at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.