All hospitals face a constant battle against disease, the invisible threats to our health.
But now staff at brand-new £334million Royal Derby Hospital face, alongside C.dif and MRSA, another challenge to their working environment - a ghost.
Staff are said to be so perturbed by the sightings that an exorcist is expected on the premises within days.
One source on the premises told The Sun: 'Several people have seen a male figure cloaked from head to toe in black darting between between rooms and through walls - especially in departments near the morgue.
'It's affected morale so much that bosses decided they have to act.'
There is speculation that the figure could be a Roman soldier killed there as the old Derby City General Hospital was built in the 1920s over part of a Roman road.
The number of staff complaints prompted an email from senior manager Debbie Butler where she outlined the plan to bring in an exorcist.
She wrote: 'I'm not sure how many of you are aware that some members of staff have reported seeing a ghost.
'I'm taking it seriously as it is affecting some members of staff and the last thing I want is staff feeling uneasy at work.
'I don't want to scare anyone any more than necessary, but felt it was best I made you all aware of the situation and what we are doing about it.
'I've spoken to the Trust's chaplain and she is going to arrange for someone from the cathedral to exorcise the department.'
The building is officially known as the City General, but will be officially renamed in the next few months.
Ms Butler added: 'I understand that some of you will probably be worried or scared about this.
'If any of you wish to discuss this, feel free to contact me at any time.'
Anglican priests usually need to seek permission from a bishop before performing an exorcism.
A spokesman for the Bishop of Derby: 'Any case such as this is put to the bishop.
'He would seek proper advice before taking action.'
A spokeswoman for Derby Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'We take information from staff seriously and are working with the hospital chaplaincy to put people's minds at ease.'
Derby has recently been named the most haunted place in Britain, with more reports of ghosts, poltergeists, werewolves and other supernatural phenomena than anywhere else in the UK.
The Supernatural Britain Report, conducted by Lionel Fanthorpe, an expert on the paranormal, examined ghostly goings-on in 40 cities across the UK and compiled a list of the ten most spooky places in the country.
Mr Fanthorpe found there had been 315 reports of ghosts, poltergeists, werewolves and vampires in Derby since records began - an average 14 sightings per 10,000 members of its population.
In joint second were Chester and York, with a rate of 11 sightings per 10,000, followed by Exeter in fourth place, then St Albans, Edinburgh, Belfast, Oxford, Norwich and Gloucester.
(Original headline: Get in the exorcist! Ghost of dead Roman soldier seen near brand-new hospital's morgue
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