This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Winter cancellations cause 60,000 fewer operations
Analysis by the Royal College of Surgeons has revealed that there were over 62,000 fewer NHS treatments, including surgical operations, performed by consultants this winter compared to the previous winter.
From November 2017 to January 2018, 860,816 operations were performed in the NHS which is 62,289 fewer than the same period in 2016-2017.
The decrease in the number of operations performed this winter follows necessary advice from NHS England’s emergency pressures panel to postpone all planned surgery for NHS patients in January. While necessary to ease pressures on A&E departments, the move also left many patients not having surgery at a time when they needed it, extending their time in pain or discomfort.
Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “NHS England’s advice to hospitals to cancel all elective operations in January was a necessary evil under the circumstances. It meant patients avoided the distress of having their operation cancelled after turning up to hospital and it freed up NHS staff and resources to deal with patients needing emergency treatment.
“However, it also inevitably prevented many patients who are in discomfort or pain from having an operation when they needed it, potentially causing their condition to deteriorate. The fact remains that none of what the NHS experienced this year was new. There is more the NHS can do to improve planning and resources for next year to deal with demand. Furthermore, we urgently need a clear plan to deal with the growing backlog of cancelled operations.
“The newly created National Emergency Pressures Panel, of which I am a member, is now needed throughout the year. Firefighting each winter is not enough. The retail sector can predict shop footfall based on small changes in temperature – and it prepares for the increase during the Christmas shopping period well in advance. The same level of sophistication needs to be applied to the NHS and we must start planning for next winter now."
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