Struggling hospital ward bars admissions

NHS chiefs have called for a strategic review of services after a hospital ward was forced into barring new admissions due to a shortage of medical workers.

Extreme staffing pressures have forced a restriction of new in-patient admissions at the County Community Hospital Invergordon in the Highlands.

Deborah Jones, NHS Highland’s director of strategic commissioning, planning and performance, said: “Whilst this current decision has been made for quality and safety reasons, there is a need to urgently consider how we are going to both sustain high-quality services that meet the needs of an increasingly ageing population.”

NHS Highland said the situation “will be kept under review”.

“There is evidence which indicates that the current level of resources is less than that required to meet current cost and demand pressures”