Over 100 patients ready to leave hospital in Cornwall but have no onward care
It comes as all routine and urgent surgery at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is temporarily suspended
It has been revealed that over 100 people are ready to leave hospital in Cornwall but are in need of care of support paackages.
That is just one of the pressures facing the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust as it suspends all routine and urgent surgery.
Bosses say the difficult decision has been made due to Covid pressures and the high demand on the health service.
We are being promised that anyone whose appointment needs to be changed will be contacted directly.
The hospitals trust is asking people not to contact them.
If you don't hear that your appointment has changed, you should continue to come to hospital as planned, following the pre-admission instructions you will have received.
Why has surgery been suspended?
With Covid-related admissions remaining high and health and care services in Cornwall under continued pressure, planned routine and urgent surgery has been temporarily suspended at Cornwall's main hospitals, so the clinical teams can care for people needing emergency admission.
Bosses say there has been no let-up in demand and they currently have more than 40 people in hospital who are COVID positive and nearly 50 more who are contacts and need to be isolated. A large proportion of the patients admitted for other medical problems or injuries have been unaware they have COVID until tested on admission and need to be cared for in separate areas to other patients.
What is going ahead and what isn't?
Critical surgery for people with cancer, life and limb saving need, cardiology, and sight-saving procedures is still going ahead. RCHT is also continuing to work with the Duchy Hospital in Truro to carry out as many operations there as they can.
Anyone whose appointment needs to be changed will be contacted directly - there is no need to call the hospital - otherwise patients should continue to come to hospital as planned, following the pre-admission instructions you will have received.
What is causing the pressure and how can I help?
The hospital pressures are compounded by the unprecedented demand on the ambulance service, the severity of illness of those needing emergency admission, and more than 100 people in RCHT's three hospitals who are ready to leave but are in need of care or support packages.
Bosses are working hard with colleagues across the NHS, in social care and voluntary services to ease the pressures they are under.
Both residents and holidaymakers can really help by making sure we choose the right services when it’s not a 999 emergency. By calling our own GP first or contacting 111, the hospital will be able to concentrate on those in most need of specialist care and help them get ambulance crews back on the road.