Military training causes op delays

Operating theatre

Patients waiting for surgery at a Devon hospital could face further delays this week.

Staff were forced to postpone routine operations at Derriford Hospital last week because military staff have been deployed to the Mediterranean for training exercises.

The hospital also said it has also been affected by the ongoing problem of the Norwalk stomach virus.

A sharp rise in the number of casualty admissions last week is also being blamed for the problem.

Reduced admissions

Derriford is one of six hospitals in the UK which employs MoD staff, and many others are reservists who could be called up.

Many of the 180 military personnel are currently on board RFA Argus.

At the end of last week, only one ward was closed because of the Norwalk virus.

However, which also reduced the number of admissions which can be made.

However, managers have said it is difficult to predict whether more operations will be cancelled this week but that it has been making contingency arrangements.