AN INPATIENT ward is to be closed at Stratton Community Hospital for a month while remedial work is carried out.

Problems with some of the systems were identified at the hospital, following a routine fire safety inspection in November.

Immediate action was taken at the time and the number of hospital beds reduced to six to remove any risk to patients and staff.

However, further disruptive work is necessary to complete the remedial actions and therefore the inpatient ward will be temporarily closed for a month from January 5.

Repairs will be made to the plumbing and heating system and fire detectors will be installed in void areas and the fire alarm system will be reprogrammed.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.