A CHILDREN'S ward at Ulster Hospital has been closed for almost four weeks due to high levels of staff sickness.
The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed the 20-bed Maynard Sinclair ward was closed on November 11.
In a statement the trust said all paediatric admissions had been "temporarily relocated" to another ward with 31 beds and that Maynard Sinclair ward would be reopened "as soon as possible".
"Due to staff sickness levels and to ensure patient safety, a decision was made with senior management and clinicians within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust on Friday 11 November 2016 to temporarily relocate all paediatric admissions from Maynard Sinclair to Craig Ward in the Ulster Hospital.
"The trust will continue to monitor sickness levels on a daily basis and Maynard Sinclair Ward will be reopened as soon as appropriate staffing levels can be achieved. Staff within this clinical area continue to provide a high standard of nursing care to all children and young people with the full support of their managers and the trust."
