PEH bed shortage sees more ops cancelled

PATIENTS going to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital for operations have again found themselves being turned away due a shortage of beds.

The latest situation was highlighted on Twitter by Advocate Sam Maindonald who was expecting surgery on Monday.

‘Got to the hospital ready for my operation only to be informed that it has been cancelled because there are no beds in the entire hospital,’ she wrote on Twitter.

‘It’s really upsetting. I’ve been shielding for a week.

‘I’ve done daily LFTs. I’ve organised cover for my practice and rearranged my diary and home life.

‘I’ve also learnt that they are cancelling more urgent procedures for the same reason, which is inexcusable.’

The issue is not a new one, and a large part of the problem is that there are patients in hospital who do not really need to be there but do not have suitable long-term care arrangements in place elsewhere.

‘We are not currently at capacity, however as ever things change in terms of our bed situation on an hour-by-hour basis,’ said Health and Social Care medical director Dr Peter Rabey.

‘We have medical, surgical and ICU beds available, but the hospital is currently busy.’

An entire surgical ward has been taken up by patients who are unable to leave.

‘That has resulted in some operations being postponed.

‘We completely understand how frustrating and stressful it can be for patients when they prepare themselves for surgery only to have it postponed. It’s an awful situation and not one we take lightly.’

He apologised to those affected and said that this course of action was only taken when absolutely necessary.

HSC has a plan to set aside nine beds for orthopaedic patients soon, which would help alleviate pressure on the long waiting list for these operations.

Medical Specialist Group chairman Dr Gary Yarwood said that the situation was ‘unfortunately one of the inevitabilities of trying to maximise a resource that’s full’.

He said if a patient will require an intensive care bed after an operation and comes in to the PEH in the morning to wait for surgery in the afternoon and then an emergency occurs, that ICU bed could be taken.

‘That sort of scenario is unfortunately one that we’re seeing,’ he said.