Visitors are allowed back on the wards at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital today, but a number of restrictions remain in place in a bid to try and reduce levels of norovirus.

Like many hospitals in Somerset, Musgrove Park has been battling an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, and had closed its wards to visitors.

That restriction has been lifted this morning, although hospital bosses have introduced a number of conditions for anyone wanting to visit a patient.

Nobody should visit any of the hospital's wards if they have experienced diarrhoea or vomiting in the past two days.

No schoolchildren should visit, due to the possibility of schools or nurseries having been affected by norovirus. The hospital will make exceptions for its most seriously-ill patients.

Visiting times are from 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm, and there should be no more than two visitors per patient during each session.

Musgrove Park Hospital medical director Colin Close said: “Visitors can bring norovirus in with them to hospital and we know some visitors have been to see patients when they have either had the symptoms themselves, or have been in contact with someone else who has.

"Although we are allowing visitors on the wards, we are asking them to help keep our patients safe by following the restrictions we have in place.

“If you are visiting a patient at Musgrove, please remember to use the hand gel at the entrance to wards, and again on leaving.

"The gel should be rubbed into the hands until it fully evaporates without forgetting fingernails, thumbs, between fingers and wrists.

“We have robust procedures in place when dealing with outbreaks of norovirus. As soon as norovirus is suspected, the ward is closed to new admissions and transfers are stopped to help reduce the risk of spread.

"Staff members permanently based on wards with infected patients are not allowed to work on other wards.

“Infected wards are not re-opened until there have been no patient with symptoms for 72 hours. Before re-opening to new admissions, the ward and equipment is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.”