'Swine flu' wards back to normal

Two Derbyshire hospital wards set aside to deal with swine flu patients are returning to general use.

The wards at Whitworth Hospital and Heanor Memorial Hospital were to act as isolation units if needed.

But so far the cases have either been mild, requiring only home care, or so serious they needed treatment on acute wards at the Royal Derby.

Health spokesman Tim Broadley said a small number of cases were serious enough to need hospital treatment.

He said: "The dedicated swine flu wards at Heanor and Whitworth were an essential part of our preparations as we faced the first pandemic since 1968.

"As the virus has progressed, it has become clear that the small numbers of patients who need hospital treatment are too ill to be treated in a community hospital and need the care that acute hospitals provide.

"Once the patients begin to recover, they get better very quickly and are able to go straight home."