Surgery cancelled at NI hospitals as ICU capacity is increased
Planned operations called off as part of surge planning
Last updated 5th Nov 2020
At least 68 patients have had elective procedures cancelled at Craigavon Hospital this week as the Trust increases its capacity in Intensive Care units.
It comes as the surge in Coronavirus cases continues to impact admissions.
Hospital capacity is currently 101% in Northern Ireland and the Southern Trust said it had to take the 'extremely difficult decision,' in order to free up staff and resources.
A spokesperson for the Trust commented:
"Over the last few weeks we have seen a very significant surge in the number of cases of COVID-19 in the community and in our hospitals.
"This surge has brought additional challenges due to staff sickness and isolation measures and we currently have more than 500 staff off work for COVID-19 related reasons.
"More people are requiring specialist clinical care in the Intensive Care Units and we have made the extremely difficult decision to cancel elective surgery this week as we expand capacity in our ICU as part of our surge response plans.
"Planned surgery procedures across a range of specialties have been postponed in Craigavon Area Hospital – affecting 68 Southern Trust patients.
"This will enable staff to be available for redeployment to assist in areas of greatest need like the Intensive Care Unit.
"We will do everything possible to reschedule cancelled surgery over the coming weeks."
It is a similar situation across all or hospitals at present.
Some surgeries also had to be cancelled in the Northern Trust to allow cancer and other urgent operations to be prioritised.
A statement to Downtown Cool FM from the Northern Trust read: "As the Trust has moved into the second surge of COVID-19 there has been a need to reduce elective surgery to free nursing and medical resource to support the Intensive Care Unit and the increasing number of patients with COVID-19 admitted to medical wards.
"We are continuing to provide 25 Inpatient and 6 Day-case Elective lists across the Trust. These are being prioritised for cancer and other urgent surgery.
"Unfortunately in reducing elective lists we have had to cancel a number of less urgent patients who had been given a date for surgery.
"These cancelled patients will be prioritised for a date as soon as we are able to increase the elective lists again.
"A decision to cancel surgery is not taken lightly and the Trust is taking all possible steps to protect cancer and other very urgent surgery.
"This will be kept under review as the impact of COVID-19 is being felt in all areas of the system and it is anticipated that this pressure will continue to increase over the next number of weeks."
It added: "The Trust apologises unreservedly to all patients who have been personally impacted by these cancellations and would urge the community to do all they can to mitigate against COVID-19 so that we can provide as many services as possible."