8 January 2013 Last updated at 11:07 ET

Guernsey ward closure 'delays operations'

Dr Evans said it was not clear how long the delays would continue

The indefinite closure of a Guernsey hospital ward is likely to delay some operations, according to the chairman of the Medical Specialist Group.

De Saumarez Ward was closed earlier this month due to a shortage of staff.

The group is the main secondary healthcare provider in the island under contract from the States.

Dr Steve Evans said it would almost certainly be forced to break its contract, under which patients should be operated on within eight weeks.

He said: "We will try to minimise the impact it does have on patients, particularly the non-urgent categories.

"There will be delays. We can't even say at the moment how long those delays will be because we don't know what's going to happen in the medium term."