Surgical beds at Noble's have to be used for emergencies

The Department of Health says it's having to reduce the number of surgical beds available at Noble's Hospital this week to ensure there's enough space for acute emergencies.

In what's being called 'an unprecedented decision', beds on Ward 4, the Gynaecological Ward, will be used for medical patients.

This may mean reducing the number of elective non-urgent surgical admissions, although urgent surgical care and planned cancer surgery will continue as normal.

The hospital will be directly contacting patients who may be affected by this decision and the department is thanking the public for their understanding during what they say is an 'extraordinarily busy period'.