A primary school has been forced to close after its students and staff were hit by a norovirus outbreak.
NHS figures revealed last week cases of the winter vomiting bug have risen by 70 per cent in just seven days from 790 to 1,336 patients being admitted to hospital with the illness.
This spike is adding pressure to hospital beds, with 94.6 per cent being occupied, which is causing the health service to buckle under the pressure.
Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: ‘All we can see is pressure, pressure and more pressure – the system is on a knife-edge.’
Tongwynlais Primary in Cardiff has seen 30 of its 230 students struck down with norovirus, which can be life-threatening if it causes severe dehydration, with its headmistress Mrs Sally Phillips saying they ‘left with no choice’ but to shut the school down.
A primary school has closed after its students were hit by a norovirus outbreak (stock)
Tongwynlais Primary (pictured) in Cardiff has 30 out of 230 students infected with norovirus
‘The system is on a knife-edge’
Speaking of the impact of the rising number of norovirus cases, Dr Scriven said: ‘All we can see is pressure, pressure and more pressure – the system is on a knife-edge.
‘Some hospitals are already cancelling planned surgery and that is something patients will face increasingly over the winter months.’
Winter illness demands have also led to more delays for ambulances waiting at hospitals for patients to be admitted.
There were 11,900 held up for more than 30 minutes the week before last, up from 10,200 the previous week. Of these, 2,340 were delays of an hour or more, up from 1,840.
Janet Davies, head of the Royal College of Nursing, said: ‘Behind every one is a person waiting too long, often in pain and discomfort and at their lowest ebb.’
‘We are left with no choice’
In a message from the primary school to parents issued on Sunday, Mrs Phillips said: ‘As numbers have increased significantly late today of children and teaching staff with D and V [diarrhea and vomiting] we have taken very late further advice from the local authority and have now decided to close school tomorrow to pupils.
‘We have had the school deep-cleaned over the weekend but now need to take this action to reassess the situation and stop the spread of this winter vomiting virus.
‘We are deeply sorry for inconvenience this may cause for parents and carers but are left with no choice.’
The school reopened today.
Public Health Wales advises students and adults with norovirus to remain off school or work for at least 48 hours after their symptoms go away.
They add this may require schools to temporarily close if a significant number of staff are affected.