A busy accident and emergency ward in Fife  is to remain closed overnight for "at least" a week and could be closed altogether on weekends from now on.

STV News has learned that admissions to Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital between 8pm and 8am are not to resume this week as expected, due to a serious shortage of doctors.

The staffing crisis at NHS Fife could even lead to admissions to the Victoria being halted every weekend for the foreseeable future.

A shortage of doctors forced NHS Fife bosses to halt admissions to Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital at 8pm on Monday night, leaving ambulance staff to take all emergency cases to Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Hospital.

NHS Fife had drawn up a contingency plan in the event of a shortage of junior doctors last year. However, it had never been necessary to activate the plan prior to Monday's staffing crisis.

It had initially been thought the overnight closures would last until the end of this week. However, an NHS Fife spokeswoman has now told STV news the department will close for twelve hours every night until "at least" next Monday, and will close altogether on weekends for the foreseeable future.

The move has put NHS Fife under renewed pressure to reveal the true extent of A&E staffing issues.

An NHS Fife spokesperson said they had been limited by the European Working Time Regulations, which limit the number of hours doctors are allowed to be on shift, as well as by an increasing specialisation among staff.

However, an NHS Fife spokeswoman said: "The contingency plans, prepared by NHS Fife as a response to circumstances where clinical staffing difficulties mean that it is not possible to provide for medical admissions overnight at the Victoria Hospital, came into operation on Monday 17 May.  

"This is because of unexpected junior doctor absence and the unavailability of locum cover.

"The contingency plans, which were first reported to the public meeting of NHS Fife’s Operational Divisional Committee in November 2009, covers the period from 8 pm to 8 am.  

"During this period, A&E services are concentrated at Queen Margaret Hospital with a Minor Injuries Service continuing at Victoria Hospital.  Similarly acute medical admissions overnight will also transfer to Queen Margaret Hospital. This pattern of services is the most appropriate because of the links to surgical services centralised at present at Queen Margaret Hospital."

The department at the Victoria is due to remain closed overnight until.... however, health chiefs insist this will be regularly reviewed in case there is a change to available staffing.

However, the spokeswoman added: "NHS Fife’s primary concern is to ensure that clinical services are being provided with safe levels of medical staffing.

"The contingency plan will be continually under review but it is expected to be in place until at least next Monday.  It is possible that the contingency plan may also be invoked over further weekends."