Operations called off as second wave takes its toll on hospitals
Decision taken to create capacity for emergency patients, say NHS chiefs after infection fears grow
SURGERIES are being cancelled in some hospitals as the impact of the second wave of Covid-19 begins to take its toll on the NHS.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is believed to be the first provider to instruct surgeons to postpone some non-urgent procedures, after facing “rapidly escalating demands” because of coronavirus infections.
The trust said Nottingham was facing a “serious situation” following a surge in infections in the region, forcing them to delay patients’ planned treatment.
In a message sent to staff on Friday, the trust’s medical director and chief nurse said the decision was needed “to create capacity for emergency patients”.
The message also raised concerns about nosocomial spread – patients becoming infected within a hospital.
It follows a recent analysis by the University of Oxford, which found that up to a quarter of patients in hospital with Covid-19 had caught the virus after admission.
Prof Carl Heneghan, who led the research, said: “Once you start to get into the data, it’s not as simple as cases rising or hospitals admissions rising. This shows that there is a significant problem with healthcare-acquired infections.”
By postponing or cancelling some surgeries, it is hoped some operations could still go ahead at East Midlands Hospital in Nottingham, while preventing potentially infectious patients entering the hospital, The Independent reported. It is understood patients isolating for three days prior to surgery will have their operations postponed, but those isolating for at least a week can still go ahead.
The new measures are expected to be reviewed after a week.
A spokesman for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said its hospitals continued to offer care for both Covid and non-Covid patients.
“We are facing a very serious situation here in Nottinghamshire. We have the highest levels of Covid-19 infection in the country, and as a result we have had to postpone some of our nonurgent activity,” the spokesman said.
“We wish to make it clear that our care for those in need of urgent cancer operations, or of other clinically urgent procedures, remains.
“We ask our communities to please follow the government guidance closely – wash your hands, wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
“Playing your part to control further transmission in our city and county will help to save lives.”
The Nottingham decisions came as University Hospitals Birmingham announced it would turn away hundreds of patients who presented at A&E if they were deemed as non-essential, as the hospital sought to protect critical services amid rising infections.
The Nightingale Hospitals in Sunderland, Manchester and Harrogate were this week told to mobilise after an influx of Covid-19 admissions in their regions. But senior NHS leaders in the North West and the North East have reportedly expressed concern at the suitability of the temporary facilities for use in
‘We wish to make it clear our care for those in need of cancer operations, or other urgent procedures, remains’
a second wave, according to the Health Service Journal. Questions were raised about difficulties with heating and staffing the facilities, as well as concerns around lavatories and ventilation.
Regarding the Manchester Nightingale, one senior North West clinician told the HSJ: “It may be suitable for patients stepping down from critical care, but that isn’t where the pinch is – the pinch is critical care beds.”
The temporary hospital, located in an old train facility, allegedly takes two weeks to heat up to the appropriate temperature needed to treat patients, another source said.
Last night, it was reported that a vaccine could be introduced as soon as December.
According to The Sunday Times Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, privately revealed that trials of the Oxford vaccine, which is manufactured by AstraZeneca, have shown it will cut infections and save lives.