AMBULANCES are being diverted from a hospital as staff battle to contain an outbreak of highly infectious bug.

Only patients who need immediate life-saving treatment are being taken to the accident and emergency department at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Sixty patients and 37 staff have now been struck down with sickness and diarrhoea caused by the norovirus and seven wards have been affected.

On Thursday the hospital took the unusual step of closing all wards to visitors in a bid to keep the numbers of infections under control.

Four of the affected wards are closed to new admissions and patients on these who are ready to be discharged to a nursing or care home are being kept in to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.

A Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman said: “Strict infection control measures remain in place at the Princess Royal Hospital.

“Ambulances are only taking patients to this hospital if immediate lifesaving treatment is needed - other patients needing urgent care are being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and to other Sussex hospitals.

“We continue to ask visitors to stay away from the Princess Royal's wards and to ensure that they protect themselves and others through good hand hygiene measures, with soap and hot water.”

Maternity services at the hospital have not been affected.

The outbreak has also impacted on planned operations at the hospital because of the shortage of available beds.

Hospital bosses said the decision to ban visitors had not been taken lightly and special arrangements for individual patients would be arranged on an individual basis.

The wards affected are Albourne, Ansty, Ardingly, Balcombe, Horsted Keynes, Pycombe and Newtimber.

Anyone with symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting should not come to hospital or visit their GP surgery.

Instead they are advised to stay at home and drink plenty of water.

People are also urged to call their GP practice or the NHS 111 helpline if they need advice or a referral to the out-of-hours service.