Cornwall's main hospitals suspend all routine and urgent surgery
Bosses say Covid admissions are high and they're under extreme pressure
Last updated 10th Sep 2021
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has temporarily suspended all planned routine and urgent surgery as it continues to face high pressure.
Bosses at Treliske say Covid-related admissions are remaining high and they have taken the difficult decision to halt surgery so staff can care for people needing emergency treatment.
There are currently 40 patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in the hospitals trust, with another 50 who are contacts and need to isolate.
A large number of patients admitted for other medical reasons have been unaware they had the virus until tested on admission.
There have been 12 coronavirus related deaths in Cornwall over the past week.
The Royal Cornwall Hospital has been in-and-out of so-called 'black alert' since May, and was on the highest alert level, also know as Opel 4, for the entire summer holidays.
It comes as over 13,600 people sign a petition for a second general hospital with an A&E department in Cornwall, which the government has now responded too.
Earlier this week, Cornwall's ambulance service declared a major incident because of high demand, separate to the critical incident the service declared back in May following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Bosses say anyone whose appointments need to change because of the suspended surgery will be contacted.
Critical surgery, for people with cancer, life and limb saving need, cardiology, and sight-saving procedures will still go ahead.
RCHT Medical Director, Dr Allister Grant said: “With covid-related admissions remaining high and health and care services in Cornwall under continued pressure, we’ve taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend planned routine and urgent surgery at our main hospitals, so our clinical teams can care for people needing emergency admission.
“There has been no let-up in demand and 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.
“Our staff are working flexibly and extraordinarily hard to help us care safely for the higher numbers of people in hospital with COVID. This includes the orthopaedic and breast surgery teams at St Michael’s Hospital and the surgical unit team at West Cornwall Hospital who have changed the role of their wards to care for medical patients, whilst we get through what we hope will be the peak of COVID-related admissions."
He added: “Anyone whose appointment needs to be changed will be contacted directly - there is no need to call us - otherwise patients should continue to come to hospital as planned, following the pre-admission instructions they will have received.
“We will go ahead with critical surgery for people with cancer, life and limb saving need, cardiology, and sight-saving procedures. We will also continue our work with the Duchy Hospital in Truro to carry out as many operations there as we can.
“Our 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 our three hospitals who are ready to leave but are in need of care or support packages. We are working hard with our colleagues across the NHS, in social care and voluntary services to ease the pressures we are under.
“Both residents and holidaymakers can really help us, help them by making sure they choose the right services when it’s not a 999 emergency. By calling their own GP first or contacting 111, we will be able to concentrate on those in most need of specialist care and help us get ambulance crews back on the road.”