HSSD and the Medical Specialist Group have announced they are exploring various options, including bringing in a new consultant, after revealing there were 119 islanders whose orthopaedic procedures would take place past the contractual waiting time of eight weeks after seeing a consultant. Some appointments are being scheduled for as far away as November and December, but emergency surgery remains unaffected.
HSSD's deputy chief officer Richard Evans apologised to those caught up in the backlog.
'We are acutely aware that anyone who is awaiting an orthopaedic operation will be very much looking forward to the relief from pain and improved mobility that their recovery will bring,' he said. 'I offer my apologies to those patients who are currently awaiting their operations or confirmation of their theatre booking date.'
HSSD and the MSG have said the situation had been compounded for several reasons, including an increase in referrals and the department's current capacity for the sterilisation of surgical equipment and availability of surgical beds for orthopaedic admissions.
