The Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre has closed its maternal child unit until at least 7 a.m. on Saturday because of illness among its nursing staff.Bruce Quigley, chief executive officer of the health authority, says the number of sick calls makes it impossible to maintain a safe staffing level at the hospital, which serves the Amherst area.Expectant mothers in labour are being advised to go to the hospital’s emergency department for assessment, and then arrangements can be made for transfer by ambulance to hospitals in Truro and Halifax. Read more