A MERSEYSIDE hospital last night relaxed visiting restrictions imposed when several wards were struck by a vomiting bug.

Wirral’s Arrowe Park Hospital closed its doors to visitors last week after infected patients were admitted from care homes.

Hospital administrators closed wards which were infected with the highly contagious norovirus, a bug which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, but are now allowing visitors back on site.

Last night, a message on the website for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said there was temporary restriction on visiting at Ward 21 and the Isolation Unit.

The message said: “Please be aware that some clinical areas in Arrowe Park Hospital are currently affected by Norovirus, a highly infectious, community acquired virus that causes diarrhoea and/or vomiting.

“If you have any symptoms, or have been in contact with anyone with symptoms, please do not come in to the hospital.”

A review took place on Monday and the decision was made to keep restrictions in place until Wednesday.

This is the fourth time in 18 months that the trust has restricted access because of a norovirus outbreak.