The Department of Health has taken the decision to temporarily close Ward 7 at Noble’s Hospital due to staff shortages caused by sickness; however services are unaffected and the level of care available in the hospital remains unchanged. Noble’s Hospital Manager, Barbara Scott commented, “I’d first and foremost like to reassure the public by making it quite clear that there is no cause for alarm. Ward 7, which is Noble’s Hospital’s Stroke Unit, has been closed; but this will not prevent us from providing the same exacting and high standard of care for patients. Given that the hospital is generally quieter over the Christmas period, we have been able to reallocate resources and re-deploy staff. The only change is that patients who have suffered a stroke will simply be admitted to a different ward. It’s really a matter of internal hospital logistics, so the public needn’t be concerned.” Norman McGregor Edwards, Director of Health Strategy and Performance added, “Our clinical staff are as vulnerable to bugs as any member of the public and when a staff member is ill, we cannot risk the further spread of infection throughout the hospital given the vulnerable condition of many of our inpatients. This decision is very much in the best interest of staff and patients alike and certainly shouldn’t be interpreted as any sort of cut in service or budget.” - ENDS -