Novovirus outbreak 'straining UK hospitals'
18 January 2010 00:00 in Medical Government/ NHS related news
NHS hospitals are being hit with outbreaks of novovirus, it has been reported, putting a strain on facilities and resources.
Over 140 wards have been closed down as the health service attempts to contain the outbreak.
Additionally, scheduled operations and visitations have been cancelled amid predictions that the virus could cause even more illnesses over the coming weeks.
Chairman of the Royal College of GPs Dr Steve Field told the Daily Mail that the situation is an "incredibly serious" one.
He added: "We know it peaks twice a year and it looks like we are in the middle of a second serious peak in a few months that could [affect] up to half a million people."
In related news, the number of fast food chains that are allowed to establish bases in NHS establishments is "worrying", according to the British Heart Foundation.
These comments come after the Sun newspaper published figures last week, which indicated that 40 out of 170 NHS trusts rent spaces to chains such as Subway, Starbucks and Burger King.
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