Call to clear virus operations backlog

Specialist surgical hubs are needed to tackle a "colossal backlog" of non-urgent procedures, say senior medical experts.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) said such hubs should be developed to allow plannedsurgerytotakeplace ineveryregionofthecountry should there be a fresh wave of Covid-19, or other severe pressurescausedbyflu.

The RCS has also called on the Government to spending an extra

£1bn on surgery annually for the next five years as part of 12 recommendations which are "long and shortterm measures designed to improve the future sustainability of surgical services".

Elective surgery - such as hip and knee replacements - were cancelled during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, and 4.95 million people were waiting to startNHShospitaltreatment attheendofMarch-thehighestnumbersincerecordsbegan in August 2007.

Professor Neil Mortensen,presidentoftheRCS,said: "We need Government supportforanewdealforsurgery toreducethecolossalbacklog inelectivesurgeryandtohelp theNHSweatherfuturepandemics.

"The surgical hub model is the best way we can keep treating people who need operations, regardless of future pandemics," Professor Mortensen added.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokespersonsaid:"Wehavebackedthe NHSateverypointinthepandemic, safeguarding while protecting the NHS from being overwhelmed.

"We are providing an extra £7bn for health and care services this year, as well as £1bn to tackle the backlogs that have built up.”