West Country Musgrove Park Hospital

Visiting has been restricted at four wards at Musgrove Park Hospital after confirmed cases of the winter vomiting bug Norovirus.

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Visiting is restricted to close family and friends only, and people are being told to wash their hands with alcohol on arrival.

Those who have had symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting in the last two days are asked to stay away.

Musgrove Park Hospital is being evacuated as a "precautionary measure" after a gas leak caused by an accidental rupture to the gas main.

There have been no casualties affected by the leak.

There are currently 3 fire engines from Taunton and Wellington in attendance.

"Crews are currently at work with gas company representatives making the area safe and carrying out evacuations of a part of the hospital area."

Roads have been closed due to cordons that are in place for the safety of the public.

Police are appealing for help to find a mother and child from Somerset who have gone missing.

Rebecca Minnock, known as Becky, and her son Ethan were last seen on Tuesday near Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset.

Concern is growing for the welfare of the 35-year-old mum, who has dark hair and is of medium build, and three-year-old Ethan, who is blond and blue-eyed.

Police have asked anyone who uses public transport in particular to keep a lookout for the two.

Six wards remain closed at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton due to an outbreak of Norovirus.

Visiting restrictions are in place and people are being asked to stay away to avoid spreading the infection.

People wanting to visit are being asked to check ward closures on the hospital's website. A further two wards are being deep-cleaned but should reopen today.

A report into the quality of care at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital has found some areas needed improvement but that the hospital is providing safe and effective care.

The areas highlighted for improvement included maintenance of theatre and wards in the older part of hospital.

It found that at busy times, patients had to wait longer for specialist treatment and older people may not receive the care and emotional support they need.

Dr Chris Gordon is chair of the CQC Inspection Panel.

The health watchdog says Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton is providing patients with 'safe and effective care'.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission spent two days at the hospital in September, and made three unannounced visits.

They found some areas needed improvement but these were being addressed by the hospital's Trust.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust was one of the first to be inspected under radical changes introduced by the CQC.

Taunton's Musgrove Park has had the inspectors in today - as the Department of Health tries to avoid any repetition of the scandals that have affected other hospitals in the country.

It's part of the first wave to be inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Our Somerset correspondent David Woodland reports.