Hospital chiefs have closed four wards to prevent a potential spread of disease.

Several patients were reported to have vomited and had diarrhoea at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

The highly infectious disease called norovirus has not yet been confirmed but managers decided to stop any new patients from entering the day assessment unit, Brook and Reeves wards and the Elmstead rehabilitation unit.

They also appealed to hospital visitors not to visit the site unless they had been clear of symptoms for at least 48 hours and had not been in close contact with anyone else suffering from the symptoms.

Some planned surgery was cancelled on Monday.

Kate King, nursing director at Queen Mary’s, said: “We apologise to patients and visitors.

“It is important to ensure we prevent any potential spread. The community have been very helpful in keeping norovirus out of the hospital so far this winter.”

All patients are also asked to speak to their GP or hospital department before attending.

Norovirus symptoms also include nausea, stomach pains and fever. The illness lasts between one and three days and affects one million people in the UK each year.

All of the wards involved in the outbreak have been signposted and posters are on display at the main entrances encouraging people with symptoms not to enter.

The hospital is also asking staff with symptoms to stay away from work until they have been clear for 48 hours.