THE winter vomiting outbreak has forced the Kent and Canterbury Hospital to close for Christmas.

From early on Christmas Day morning, emergency ambulance patients will be diverted to hospitals in Ashford and Margate. GPs have been similarly told to refer patients elsewhere.

The drastic measures are being enforced because the bug, which causes severe diarrhoea and projectile vomiting, refuses to go away.

In less than three weeks, it has struck more than 200 staff and patients, and 14 of the hospital’s 16 wards have been either closed or partially closed. Thirty new cases were reported in just two nights last week.

David Astley, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “On Christmas Eve, planned surgery traditionally stops for a few days anyway, which gave us an excellent opportunity to rest the hospital.

“It was a difficult request at Christmas time, but it was imperative we made full use of the opportunity to contain this outbreak.”

Trust staff have been explaining the potential risks to patients who are coming in for planned surgery and are offering them the chance to postpone it for a while.

Relatives and visitors are advised to stay away unless absolutely necessary.