REVEALED: The number of surgeries cancelled in North Yorkshire
Exclusive figures have revealed how ever-growing backlogs are impacting patients in North Yorkshire
Exclusive figures have revealed the number of cancelled surgeries across North Yorkshire, in the year to last October.
A freedom of information request found 5,200 surgeries were cancelled at the York and Scarborough NHS Foundation Trust between October 2021 and September 2022.
The Trust runs a number of hospitals and medical services in North Yorkshire, including York Hospital and Scarborough Hospital.
The Trust revealed 5,200 surgical cancellations took place between October 2021 and September 2022.
There were also 3,830 operations cancelled by Patients, and 31,828 procedures performed during the same period.
Ashely Green, the CEO of patient group Healthwatch North Yorkshire said: "It's a really large number and it's really concerning.
"But what it echoes is the issues we're finding around workforces shortages. There isn't the workforce there to meet the needs of patients.
"So routine operations and unplanned care aren't happening because the workforce isn't there."
Responding to the figures, York and Scarborough NHS Trust said: "Our hospitals are under sustained severe strain which, coupled with the backlog created across the NHS by pausing many of our services because of the pandemic, means that we are seeing some long waits for surgery or treatments.
“We are continuing to prioritise emergency and urgent patients so that we manage those patients with the greatest clinical need.
“We recognise that this means some patients will spend a longer time on the waiting list and we are sorry for the inconvenience and distress that this causes for patients.”