HIGH PRESSURE LEADS TO DOZENS OF OPS CANCELLED

DOZENS of patients had their operations cancelled last minute at Nuneaton’s hospital due to high pressure.

More than 30 people had their operations put off on the same day they were due to take place in December because there was a huge demand for beds.

Bosses at the George Eliot Hospital have spoken about the pressure they are under and admitted they were ‘immensely disappointed’ that the operations were cancelled.

But assurances have been given that work is underway to ensure that similar scenarios do not happen again although, the hospital is feeling the strain of consistent demand on its Accident and Emergency department.

Don Navarro, a non-executive board member, spoke at the most recent board meeting, He said: “I recognise the pressures we are under, but that doesn’t reassure me about the 32 patients that had to their opera- tions cancelled, that they were not in any way disadvantaged or their conditions had deteriorated where they needed to perhaps come into A&E . “Also could you assure me that, as soon as possible, they (the patients) would have been attended to.” Kath Kelly, the hospital’s chief executive, explained: “We are working at an occupancy level of above 95 per cent, that’s what is making it very challenging, we have been trying to balance this throughout the year.”

But she went on to add that they have achieved some success in terms of where patients are placed in beds.

“Another important indicator is around mixed sex breaches and we haven’t had any of those for a very long time,” she said.

“I think that is an indicator where I know that other organisations are struggling as they are getting to that point where it is really impossible to get beds anywhere but we are maintaining that standard.”

We are working at an occupancy level of above 95 per cent, that’s what is making it very challenging... Kath Kelly