150 operations cancelled as Shropshire hospitals face high demand
About 150 routine operations have been cancelled in the last nine days at the trust running Shropshire's two main hospitals.
It comes as The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) – which runs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital – continues to face a high level of demand in its accident and emergency departments.
Health bosses said there were more than 80 people waiting in its A&E departments at 9am yesterday.
Since Monday last week, the trust has had to cancel 150 routine operations.
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Health chiefs are warning people to stay away from A&E unless absolutely necessary.
Sara Biffen, interim chief operating officer at SaTH, said: “Our hospitals, along with others regionally and nationally, have been incredibly busy over the Christmas and new year period.
“These demands have put a great deal of pressure on our services and we have had to cancel some operations as a direct result.
"We would like to apologise to anyone affected. It is always our intention to ensure patients are seen as quickly as possible, however our first priority must always be the safe care of patients and we put that above everything else.
"When we experience such demand, we always ensure that we prioritise the most seriously ill and injured patients.
“I would like to thank our staff who have worked so hard over this period to ensure our patients are treated safely and with kindness despite these very challenging conditions.
“Once again we would ask people to please think carefully about alternative local services, which can avoid what can be a lengthy and stressful visit to hospital.
“Many conditions can be seen much more quickly using alternative services and A&E should only be used for the most serious injuries and illnesses.
“Pharmacies are often seen simply as dispensaries for medication, but pharmacists are experts in medicines and will use their clinical expertise, together with their practical knowledge to offer advice on common problems such as coughs, colds, aches and pains and can also help you decide whether you need to see a doctor.
“NHS 111 can provide medical help fast when it’s not a 999 emergency. Many thanks for your support.”
It comes as Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said many hospitals reported more than 99 per cent capacity in the week before Christmas.
He said services are being placed under significant strain as they enter the new year and called for non-urgent operations to be postponed until at least the end of January.
Meanwhile, expectant mothers have been able to give birth at the midwife led maternity units in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry since Monday.
They were closed to births last year due to staffing shortages.
SaTH says there have been no births at the units since they reopened.
The reopened services include the delivery suites for birth and postnatal care wards.
