NHS Tayside suspends all non-urgent operations over the festive period

Bosses at a cash-strapped health board have put on hold all planned, non-urgent operations for three weeks over the festive period.

NHS Tayside said emergency surgery, urgent procedures and all cancer surgeries would still be carried out. But there will be a “step-down of all planned procedures” at Perth Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Stracathro Hospital in Angus, from 18 December through to 8 January next year.

A spokeswoman said: “Every winter, NHS Tayside, along with all other health board areas, experiences an increase in unplanned admissions which in previous years has meant the step-down at short notice of patients’ planned treatments, which we know is very distressing.

“Patients are also more likely to choose not to come in for their procedure over the festive time as they have family commitments.

“Procedures which have been planned to go ahead are often cancelled by patients at the last minute as they feel they are unable to come in over the festive period. Therefore, our annual winter plan for this year includes a threeweek step-down of nonurgent, elective procedures.”

Earlier this month a report by public spending watchdogs at Audit Scotland warned NHS Tayside faces a funding gap of almost £50 million this year as financial difficulties continue.

In June, NHS Scotland chief executive Paul Gray announced troubleshooters were being sent in after an independent report called into question its five-year transformation programme.

The independent advisory group noted NHS Tayside has not operated within its means for the past five years and was unlikely to return to financial balance over the next five.