OP CRISIS
» NHS axes 79k, often on the day of surgery » Staff shortages & gear failures on rise
EQUIPMENT failures and staff shortages are fuelling a surge in cancelled operations.
Labour obtained figures from health trusts showing the number of axed surgeries soared to 78,981 last year – up 4,811 from 2016/17. Many were cancelled on the day of the op.
Of those, 10,909 were due to staff issues, compared to 8,231 two years ago, and 4,858 due to problems with gear, up from 3,739.
A lack of hospital beds, bad weather and admin errors were some of the other reasons procedures were called off.
The NHS in England has 100,000 staff vacancies, with 10,000 more doctors and 43,000 extra nurses needed.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan
Ashworth said the cancelled ops figures, supplied under freedom of information rules, were disgraceful.
He said: “That so many more people in pain and distress are forced to endure cancelled operations, including increasingly on the day … is a shameful indictment of a decade of Tory cutbacks.
“This general election is about the future of the NHS and ensuring quality care for all.” The figures, from the 80% of acute hospital trusts in England that responded, came after doctors criticised Boris Johnson.
They said the Prime Minister is only recognising an “unprecedented” looming NHS crisis to help the Tories in the December 12 general election.
British Medical Association council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “It shouldn’t take an election to take stock of just how bad the situation has become.
“The BMA predicts the NHS is hurtling towards an unprecedented crisis this winter.”
A spokeswoman for Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on top of £33.9billion invested in the health service, there is £4.6billion in funding for buildings and staff equipment.
The NHS is hurtling towards a crisis this winter
DR CHAAND NAGPAUL FEARS FOR HEALTH CARE