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Derriford Hospital cancels 1,000 ops during 'black alert' Derriford Hospital cancels 1,000 ops during 'black alert'
(about 4 hours later)
More than 1,000 operations are thought to have been cancelled at a hospital in Devon that has been on "black alert" since January.More than 1,000 operations are thought to have been cancelled at a hospital in Devon that has been on "black alert" since January.
Plymouth Hospitals Trust said routine operations including hernia repair and knee and hip replacements had been cancelled at Derriford Hospital.Plymouth Hospitals Trust said routine operations including hernia repair and knee and hip replacements had been cancelled at Derriford Hospital.
"Black alerts" are also in place at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Yeovil Hospital in Somerset."Black alerts" are also in place at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Yeovil Hospital in Somerset.
The alert means a hospital's services are overwhelmed by demand.The alert means a hospital's services are overwhelmed by demand.
'Very sorry''Very sorry'
Kevin Baber, chief operating officer for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "In January we cancelled about 700 operations either on the day of surgery or in advance.Kevin Baber, chief operating officer for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "In January we cancelled about 700 operations either on the day of surgery or in advance.
"I would expect February to be the same, so it will be over 1,000 and we're very sorry about that.""I would expect February to be the same, so it will be over 1,000 and we're very sorry about that."
Mr Baber said: "The patients that have attended our A&E department have needed to. We have not seen large numbers of patients attending who are inappropriate attenders."Mr Baber said: "The patients that have attended our A&E department have needed to. We have not seen large numbers of patients attending who are inappropriate attenders."
He said he "could not answer" when the trust would not be on "black alert".He said he "could not answer" when the trust would not be on "black alert".
Matthew Beadnall, 23, has been suffering from severe abdominal pain since September 2014.
He was due to attend an appointment with a consultant at Derriford Hospital on 2 February but said it was cancelled four days before.
Mr Beadnall has another appointment on Monday but is expecting that to be cancelled.
He is on co-codamol painkillers "to keep the pain at bay" and said the last five months had been "a nightmare".
Elsewhere, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been on alert status since last Tuesday.Elsewhere, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been on alert status since last Tuesday.
Dr Iain Chorlton, NHS Kernow governing body member, said: "Improvements continue to be seen across the health and care system and no elective operations have been cancelled today."
'More clinicians'
He said the status remained so it could continue to "focus on getting people home from hospital when they're ready to leave".
"Some of the steps we have taken to reduce pressure include increasing the number of clinicians working in and supporting the emergency department, including a GP working during peak times and more social workers in the department to help discharge people," he added.
The local authority, Cornwall Council is funding a recruitment campaign for more care workers in response to the crisis.The local authority, Cornwall Council is funding a recruitment campaign for more care workers in response to the crisis.
In Somerset, Yeovil Hospital said it was contacting those patients whose appointments had been cancelled.In Somerset, Yeovil Hospital said it was contacting those patients whose appointments had been cancelled.
However, it refused to release any figures showing how many had been cancelled since being on "black alert".However, it refused to release any figures showing how many had been cancelled since being on "black alert".
Torbay and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has been on red alert for the past week and Dorset County Hospital is also on red alert - one level below black.Torbay and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has been on red alert for the past week and Dorset County Hospital is also on red alert - one level below black.