NOW WAIT A YEAR FOR YOUR HIP OP

Patients face lengthy delay for routine surgery after lockdown

THOUSANDS of patients could be left in crippling pain until next spring because of the backlog of operations built up during the lockdown, doctors have warned.

Orthopaedic surgeons have raised fears most knee and hip operations could be postponed until next year if they are not allowed to begin treating patients again soon.

It leaves some people whose operations were cancelled in March with a potential wait of a year for procedures.

Figures show that 55,000 fewer operations were carried out during lockdown, prompting calls for surgeons to be allowed to begin operating before the winter rush begins at the NHS.

It comes as serious concerns have been raised over the long-term impact of lockdown on Scots – especially those suffering from chronic health conditions such as arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

Surgeons say they ‘cannot afford to stop all elective procedures again’ if a second wave of Covid-19 hits and have called upon ministers to issue national guidance to health chiefs to speed along the process of opening the NHS back up for routine procedures.

Professor Michael Griffin, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said it was ‘vital’ surgery should resume in order to work through a ‘backlog of patients’.

He said: ‘At the moment, there is no national guidance on the testing and self-isolation of patients before and after surgical procedures, so health boards and trusts are making decisions independently, resulting in a great deal of disparity across different regions.

‘National guidance is essential so healthcare professionals can ensure a unified approach. There is a real risk of

a second wave later in the year, and we cannot afford to stop all elective procedures again. So it’s critical that plans and processes are put in place to allow surgery to continue alongside Covid treatment should we see another spike in cases further down the line.’

According to official figures, 55,317 fewer operations were carried out in Scotland during March, April and May compared with the same time last year. In 2019, surgeons carried out 79,247 operations compared to only 23,930 this year.

An ‘Impact Group’ report into the effects of lockdown was presented to a Holyrood cross-party group on arthritis and MSK conditions, which is chaired by Tory MSP Brian Whittle.

He said: ‘This is a serious problem coming down the road that already-stretched NHS services will have to tackle.’

‘The idea is that if we don’t get back to some sort of reasonable rate of hip and knee surgeries we won’t be able to look at this again until spring next year,.

‘There will be no rest for NHS workers and fears are being voiced privately that if surgeries do not begin soon, then treatment just won’t happen.’

Mr Whittle has raised particular concerns around the impact of lockdown on the mental and physical health of those who have been unable to receive treatthem ment during the pandemic. He said: ‘It’s difficult to look at the wider impact and that of lockdown.

‘How do we look at the impact on mental and physical health of lockdown, and how are we going to tackle that?

‘The impact of lockdown that will be coming down the line – that will be reliant on our NHS services and will put under extreme pressure. It’s more difficult to measure the impact of pain and the impact this is having on mental health, physical health and this is something we have to look at.’

The British Orthopaedic Association has also warned of concerns over delays.

President Don McBride said: ‘The message we have been hearing from those on waiting lists is one of concern and frustration. Patients can often be in significant pain, or have difficulty with mobility or living day-to-day life.

‘This can have a huge impact on a person’s physical and emotional well-being.’

Dr Jacqui McMillan of the BMA’s Scottish Consultants Committee said: ‘We are as keen as patients are to resume elective surgery, as we understand our patients are living in pain.

‘We must ensure that restarting surgery is undertaken in a safe manner to protect both patients and staff, and to prevent local outbreaks.’ According to the report, published by healthcare professionals, there is a clear ‘window’ of opportunity to begin elective surgeries before winter.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We will do all we can to support health boards to catch up on any treatments that have been postponed.’

‘There will be no rest for NHS workers’