THE Royal Bolton Hospital has been forced to close its six-bed coronary care unit after three patients and three staff were struck down with the suspected Norwalk virus, the winter vomiting bug.
Two more patients have also come down with symptoms, which include sickness and diarrhoea, in the nearby cardiology ward.
Both wards have been closed to new admissions, with new heart patients being monitored in other areas of the hospital. It follows the closure of two orthopaedic wards on Sunday as 11 patients showed symptoms of the illness.
Hospital bosses are reviewing the closure of the orthopaedic wards, which nurse patients of all ages.
The Norwalk virus, a common gastro-flu bug, is only expected to last 48 hours.
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