Planning to visit someone in hospital?

4 January 2024

We’re asking anyone who is currently experiencing respiratory or gastric related symptoms (e.g. flu, gastroenteritis), or who has been in contact with other people who have these symptoms, to avoid visiting friends and relatives in hospital to limit the spread of infection.   

Please do not visit any of our hospital sites if you:  

• feel unwell; 
• have flu-like symptoms or a respiratory infection;  
• currently have, or had, diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the past 48 hours;  
• have been in contact with anyone with these symptoms in the past 48 hours.  

Fran Howells, Head of Infection Prevention at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: "Illnesses such as flu, diarrhoea and vomiting can pass from one person to another very easily and typically at this time of the year we find that these viruses circulate more frequently in the community.  

“They can be serious for sick and vulnerable patients, so I would urge people not to visit patients in hospital at this time if you are or have recently experienced these illnesses. It’s important to ensure you are completely free from symptoms before visiting patients.

"Washing our hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of all infections. So please remember that washing our hands regularly will protect us and the people we care for from getting unwell."  

If you have a hospital appointment and you have experienced the symptoms of an infectious illness such diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or symptoms of flu in the past 48 hours, please contact us (via the contact details on your appointment letter) to see if your appointment is urgent, or if it can be rescheduled until you are feeling better. 

For further advice on preventing the spread of infection please visit: 

Infection control advice - Hywel Dda University Health Board (nhs.wales) (opens in new tab)