BEFORE it opens to emergency cases on April 20, ward 21 is being used as a temporary safe haven for patients moved from another ward struck by the C-Difficile superbug.

The outbreak on ward 27 saw seven people taken ill with the infection, which hit around 300 patients at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire over the past year.

Trust chief nurse Sarah Byrom, pictured, said: "We have transferred them to allow their ward to be deep cleaned to get rid of all the spores."

The hospital recorded 100 fewer C-Diff cases this year than the set target.