Record number of sick Brits have ‘life-saving’ heart and cancer ops cancelled amid ‘winter CATASTROPHE’
An urgent operation is that which is defined as lifesaving, needed to save a limb or organ, or where a patient is at risk of dying
RECORD numbers of sick Brits are having their life-saving operations cancelled.
It includes urgent procedures such as heart surgery and cancer treatment.
New data from NHS England shows 4,093 urgent operations were cancelled in 2016 – up 27 per cent in two years.
In 2014, the number was 3,216.
And 145 desperately ill Brits had their critical surgery postponed two or more times last year.
Experts blamed growing NHS pressures for the spike in cancellations.
An urgent operation is defined as one that is lifesaving, which is needed to save a limb or organ, or where a patient is at risk of dying.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: “This is no longer a winter crisis, it’s a winter catastrophe.”
And shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: “It’s not right that such a wide postcode lottery is opening up for non-urgent operations.
“Urgent action is required.”
Much of the NHS were in crisis in recent weeks – with over 200 major alerts issued by swamped hospitals.
It’s not right that such a wide postcode lottery is opening up for non-urgent operations. Urgent action is required
Jonathan Ashworth
Figures for the week ending third week in January show 43 NHS trusts had to temporarily close their A&Es due to overcrowding, down from 52 the previous week.
It is still more than double the same period last year.
And 51 trusts had at least one day during the week when they had a major alert.
Figures from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine show bed-blocking is at record levels – with one in 15 taken up by someone well enough to leave hospital.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, called for a review into how the health service deals with winter pressures.
He said: “Urgent operations should never have to be cancelled.
“This increase is a further sign that the system is being pushed up to and sometimes beyond capacity.
“The current situation is unsustainable and the NHS has to do something different next year.
“This winter has seen some of the worst performance figures on record against the 4-hour target in A&E.
"Delayed discharges are higher than ever. Bed occupancy rates are consistently above recommended levels.”
A Number 10 spokesman said the NHS has already been given extra cash.
He said: “We have been very clear we recognise that there are significant pressures on the NHS with an ageing and growing population.
“But we have also been very clear that the Government is committed to securing high-quality healthcare for everyone.”
An NHS England spokesman said: “It’s not uncommon for there to be pressures across the NHS at this time of year, especially as we’re facing very high levels of demand.
“The NHS takes steps each winter to maximise bed availability, and hospitals are rightly prioritising emergency and urgent patients at every opportunity.”
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