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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. |