Tipperary hospital tops list of cancelled surgeries in the Midwest so far this year
Nenagh Hospital has had the highest number of surgery operations in any of the hospitals in the University Hospital Limerick Group cancelled since the start of 2023, it has been revealed.
Cllr Seamus Morris asked at the May meeting of the Health Forum West for a list of the number of surgeries cancelled due to overcrowding in Limerick and was told in a written reply from CEO Prof Colette Cowan that 162 procedures had been cancelled in Nenagh so far this year.
This compares to 120 in Ennis Hospital; 97 in St John’s Hospital and 59 in University Hospital Limerick.
However, Prof Cowan explained that it was not possible to determine if an inpatient/day-case procedure had been cancelled specifically due to overcrowding as this information was not recorded in such a way that a report can be easily generated.
She outlines that cancellations came about through the escalation plan, the medical team, by the patient and no bed availability.
She said that the group was “confident that the specified reasons outlined above captures this data as accurately as possible”.
Prof Cowan said that, generally speaking, reductions in scheduled care early in the new year had been a feature of the group’s winter plan to allow them manage surges in medical patients associated with winter viruses and illness.
“In addition, this year’s record surge in emergency presentations was such that additional reductions in scheduled care were necessary,” she said.
Reductions in scheduled care may also be necessary at times of high demand for unscheduled care. This was in line with the hospital escalation plan, the CEO said.
“These decisions are never taken lightly, especially in the case of patients who we know have already faced long waits for treatment. We always endeavour to reschedule patients as soon as possible,” said Prof Cowan.
She pointed out that the Deloitte Report highlighted that the shortage of acute bed capacity was the fundamental driver of hospital overcrowding in the Midwest.
The analysis also found that admissions through the ED at UHL accounted for 83% of inpatient bed days, leaving limited capacity for elective activity. Frequent cancellations of elective activity to accommodate increases in demand for emergency care had resulted in long waiting lists.
Prof Cowan said that in 2022, ULHG met the targets for inpatient, day case and endoscopy waiting lists as set out in the National Waiting List Action Plan.
This was largely achieved through the use of private, virtual and extra out-of-hours clinics, including various outsourcing and insourcing initiatives.