Leitrim councillor questions why 40 surgeries were cancelled in Sligo due to bed pressures
44 patients had surgeries cancelled on the evening before they were due to take place at Sligo University Hospital (SUH) during the first four months of this year because of bed pressures.
At a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West and North West, held in Galway on Tuesday, June 23, Manorhamilton councillor Felim Gurn asked how many surgeries had been cancelled due to a lack of bed capacity at Sligo University Hospital between January and April this year.
In response, John Fitzmaurice, Integrated Health Area Manager for Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and West Cavan, confirmed that following bed management escalation meetings, a total of 44 patients had their procedures cancelled between January and April due to bed pressures.
His response further stated that patients affected by these cancellations were contacted on the evening before their scheduled surgery and advised that their procedure had to be postponed because of the lack of available inpatient beds.
All patients whose procedures were cancelled because of bed pressures were prioritised for the next available surgical list.
Within SUH, all affected patients had their surgery rescheduled within two to three weeks of the original planned date.
“Patient safety is at the forefront of everything we do. Unfortunately, at times of high activity, pressure on inpatient bed capacity may lead to the cancellation of non-time sensitive elective surgeries.”
In a statement to the Leitrim Observer, HSE West and North West confirmed that the surgeries were cancelled because of bed pressures, with all patients prioritised for the next available surgical list and rescheduled within two to three weeks of their original date.
When asked what type of surgeries were cancelled, and how many people from Leitrim were affected, a spokesperson for HSE West and North West said, “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information in relation to identifiable individuals, breaching the ethical requirement on us to observe our duty of confidentiality.”w
According to the INMO’s latest trolley watch, as of Monday, June 29, there are 80 patients on trolleys across local hospitals. There were 53 patients on trolleys at SUH, 12 at Cavan General Hospital, and 15 at Letterkenny University Hospital.