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January 19, 2017 - 4:36 PM
KELOWNA – There is no quarantine at Kelowna General and reports of an “outbreak” are misleading, according to Interior Health.
Andrew Hughes, health service administrator at Kelowna General Hospital, says while they have been limiting access to the 2 West wing of KGH, the situation is under control.
“Outbreaks of influenza and gastrointestinal illness are not uncommon for this time of year in our care facilities, including hospitals,” he says. “When a facility or hospital unit is placed on outbreak, this means a certain number of patients have presented with common symptoms within a limited timeframe.”
He says when this occurs, patients with common symptoms and patients and staff who may have been exposed are cared for in a separate area and “enhanced cleaning and housekeeping practices are implemented.”
Hughes says patients in 2 West, a cardiac surgical unit, will continue to be allowed visitors.
“We know that it is important for patients to have support from friends and family while they are in hospital recovering, but we are making visitors aware of the outbreak and advising them to visit at this time only if it is essential,” he says. “Anyone who chooses to visit someone on that unit will only be allowed into the area where their loved one is staying and will be advised about proper infection control practices and asked to adhere to them in order to prevent any further spread of illness.”
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