THE A&E department at the Princess Royal University Hospital has been re-opened.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust says there have been improvements in the management of the norovirus outbreak meaning the A&E opened at 2pm.

Outpatient services are running normally and urgent surgical operations are taking place.

To help stop further spread within the building, all patient visiting remains suspended except in the case of parents visiting children, partners accompanying expectant mothers and close relatives of critically and terminally ill patients.

Chief operating officer, Ian Wilson said: “The trust would like to thank all staff, visitors and patients for so willingly accepting and observing the restrictions in place.

"These are necessary to help ensure the safety of the greatest number of patients.

"We are doing all we can to enable normal visiting to be resumed as soon as possible."

The Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough was closed yesterday to "protect patients, staff and the public" from the virus which causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

Before the hospital was re-opened, News Shopper had received reports that security guards were standing outside locked doors at the hospital, blocking any attempts to enter the building.

Learn more about noroviruses here.