A staffing crisis has prompted a ward for elderly people at Southend Hospital to be shut down to further admissions.
Patients on 26-bed Paglesham ward will continue to be treated there until they are discharged, hospital bosses assured.
Once it is empty, the hospital will take the opportunity to redecorate and upgrade it and then use it as temporary accommodation for other wards undergoing a facelift.
Chris Humbles, deputy chief executive and director of nursing and quality, said: "We have experienced some recent difficulties in maintaining ideal medical and nursing staffing levels within our department of medicine for the elderly, particularly on Paglesham Ward.
"We hope this situation will be resolved by current recruitment initiatives. We hope to reopen Paglesham Ward within the next three to six months."
More in today's Evening Echo
Published Monday, March 18, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article