Visiting times have been cut to 30 minutes at a hospital after an outbreak of the winter vomiting virus.
Bosses at the Royal Oldham Hospital have introduced the restrictions to try to control the spread of Norovirus.
GPs are also being asked not to send patients with diarrhoea and vomiting to the site and to minimise referrals to A&E.
A spokesman for Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital, said the outbreak was an 'isolated' one within the medical assessment unit.
Patients have been moved from the unit to allow a deep clean to take place and it is expected to reopen fully after a review this weekend.
He added: "Like many hospitals at this time of year, the trust has admitted patients with diarrhoea and vomiting. Our nursing staff and infection control staff have acted swiftly and professionally to isolate the infected areas to avoid the Norovirus spreading.
"The priority is to protect our patients and staff. The medical assessment unit function has been temporarily transferred to a short stay ward at the hospital.
"Infected patients have been isolated and patient movement has been minimised. We believe we have identified the source and we will be constantly reviewing the situation over the next 48 hours. The infected unit will be deep cleaned and re-opened when we can.
"In the meantime, we have restricted visiting times and are asking patients to follow the advice given by primary care and to avoid coming to hospital for treatment unless necessary. If patients do need to attend A&E they must inform staff if they have symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting."
Patients with the symptoms are advised to stay at home, drink plenty of water and contact NHS Direct if their condition worsens.
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Alcohol hand gel doesn't work against the norovirus like it does with the swine flu, soap and water is needed with the vomitting bug. That's what one of the specialists at North manchester told me.
Is this past via water, household taps? I have only had this bug once, about a decade ago. Now instead of drink straight from the tap I use bottled water and never suffered since.
This bug was designed by the devil! Just when you have symptoms like flu there is projectile vomiting and liquid dihorrea, dehydration comes in surprisingly early, and the worst part is that it isn't in the body long enough to build up any immunity or resistance so you can catch it again.
The question however is why Oldham Hospital are allowing some patients to have 17 visitors at once around the bed, surely that cannot be right when the rules say there should be just two.