The hospital's emergency department had " fabulous " screening processes for the highly contagious illness, but it seemed there were still visitors and family members coming through the hospital doors with it.
She was speaking at the Otago District Health Board's hospital advisory committee meeting yesterday in response to a comment from chairman Richard Thomson that norovirus seemed to be something the hospital would have to regard as part of its " day to day hassle".
Chief operations manager Vivian Blake said there was a need to better manage infection control between the community and tertiary sectors.
More time might need to be spent talking with rest homes.
Ms Bradfield said there was a need for more education of the community as a whole, but money would be needed to fund it.
It had to be remembered norovirus was not the only contagious illness - there were others which could be devastating if not controlled properly.
Figures presented to the committee showed elective surgery, which was affected by the prolonged norovirus outbreak at the hospital in August, was 7% down on the planned volume for the year to date, although the October rates were only 1% down.
Mr Thomson said it was hard to know how the gap could be made up, but it should be seen in the context of the norovirus outbreak.
Other months had been virtually on target.
Mrs Blake pointed out that the board was still short of five anaesthetists.
