Thousands of operations at risk

THE NHS may have to cancel thousands more non-urgent operations to cope with the severe cold weather, senior medics warned.

With the number of occupied beds close to full capacity the NHS faces a ‘grave’ situation, the Society for Acute Medicine said yesterday.

The organisation said it had ‘great concern’ for the health service in the week ahead.

Dr Nick Scriven, president of the society which represents hospital doctors and nurses in acute medicine, said the ban on elective surgery at NHS trusts in January could return.

‘It takes the pressure off local trusts … The onset of a spell of extremely cold weather is of great concern for acute medical units who are already struggling with the widely reported stresses of this winter,’ he said. ‘Daily temperatures below the normal ambient level increase illness and hospital admission rates for cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, particularly among those aged 65 and over.’

Dr Scriven added that the NHS was suffering from ‘dangerously high bed occupancy rates’ – 95 per cent according to figures last week – ‘so the situation is grave … it could bring staffing of the NHS to its knees.’

Jeremy Hunt has admitted this year is the ‘worst ever’ winter crisis for the NHS.