Urgent answers sought by Highland politicians over Raigmore Hospital operation cancellations
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A BEDS crisis that sparked operation cancellations at the region's main hospital has prompted calls for urgent answers from concerned Highland politicians.
NHS Highland made the surprise announcement on Wednesday night, and said that the cancellation of "a number of planned operations" had been necessary in order to free up resources for "emergency admissions".
Dr Boyd Peters, medical director for NHS Highland, said he was "very sorry" that the move had been necessary and added that he "sincerely hope[d] we will see these pressures ease soon".
“We are currently very busy, with lots of people needing our services," said Dr Peters. "Our operational planning and the extra efforts of our staff in all our hospitals and community services have ensured that we have been able to respond to these pressures.
"Unfortunately, a number of planned operations have had to be cancelled to allow for emergency admissions. I am very sorry that this has been necessary and I'd like to thank patients and their families for their understanding and cooperation at this very difficult time.
"I sincerely hope we will see these pressures ease soon.”
It has since emerged that three wards at Raigmore have either been closed – or closed to new admissions – as a result of Covid-19 infections and a scabies outbreak.
Related: Raigmore Hospital in Inverness cancels operations to deal with emergencies
Related: Three wards at Raigmore Hospital closed by Covid and scabies outbreaks
It is unclear how much of an impact this will have had on the hospital beds situation. Hospital bosses had cited an increase in trauma cases as being one of the main drivers behind the current situation but also added that "very few [patients] able to be discharged" was a contributory factor. Closures of wards will likely not have helped with discharge figures and a later clarification from NHS Highland did suggest the ward closures were one of a "number of factors".
Edward Mountain, a Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said the health board's announcement of cancelled operations again highlighted the need for a new hospital in Inverness.
The MSP said: “It is obviously disappointing that Raigmore is now under serious pressure to offer all the services that should normally be available." He continued: “This issue highlights yet again why the Highlands needs a new hospital to replace Raigmore and I am campaigning relentlessly to make this a reality.”
Inverness and Nairn's SNP MSP Fergus Ewing was among those who have since said they will be seeking more information from the health board as to the cause of the crisis, how long it's likely to persist and what can be done to solve it.
He told the Inverness Courier: "I’m asking NHS Highland whether these current pressures are temporary or likely to persist.
"Cancelled elective operations obviously cause distress and in many cases, continued pain. So I’m concerned that these cancellations have occurred, but clinicians must give priority to emergency cases.
"I’m asking NHS Highland how these capacity pressures can be addressed, and will continue to liaise closely with them. Many people are waiting for operations for too long. However, after having undergone operative treatment, many constituents express to me their real gratitude for the medical care that they have received."
Highland Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said she will also be raising the situation with NHS Highland: “It is concerning to hear of the capacity issues at Raigmore and the knock on effect this will have on other NHS departments in the area.
“I understand it's due to trauma cases and given the number of road traffic accidents that are happening on the A9 both north and south of Inverness and the A82 it could cause capacity issues in Raigmore.
“This is an extremely concerning situation that I will be raising with NHS Highland.”
Green MSP Ariane Burgess said she was in regular contact with the health board and would be meeting them later this month to discuss the issue and others raised by constituents.
She continued: "The systemic issues that under-pin this latest crisis are down to the reckless mismanagement of the UK’s economy and public services by an increasingly ideologically-driven Conservative party. Scotland did not vote for Brexit which has so damaged the flow of much-needed skilled staff, nor did it vote for cuts to public services and the economic chaos caused by extreme tax cuts for the wealthy and austerity for the rest of us.
"Until these challenges can be dealt with in Scotland, by a government we choose, even the £1 billion pound boost and six per cent increase in health care funding put in place by the Scottish Government can’t fully address the threat our NHS faces.
"The backlog from Covid and long-term under-funding and under-staffing caused by years of Tory austerity has meant that there is no 'quiet period' for the NHS. Cancelling these planned operations now will also create a backlog further down the line.
"NHS Highland is working hard to recruit staff but I fear this situation is likely to continue until we get run-away inflation under control and deliver better pay, conditions and support for NHS staff. I’ve been a vocal supporter of rural visa pilots and I feel enabling a more compassionate, demand-led immigration policy, starting in rural areas, is crucial to filling posts in our NHS and more widely.
"I will continue to work constructively with health boards, trade unions and residents of the Highlands & Islands to make sure that our health service is adequately funded and resourced."
MPs Drew Hendry (SNP) and Jamie Stone (Lib-Dem) also spoke of their concern over the cancelled operations.
Mr Hendry said: "It's clear that NHS Highland is going through a challenging period, and that is impacting both people who need urgent healthcare support and those who are waiting for appointments. The winter period is particularly challenging for hospitals, including Raigmore, and the rise in COVID numbers will not be helping.
"Above all else, it's crucial to me that our community gets the support and healthcare services they deserve, and I'm committed to working with others to ensure this is the case. I know the NHS Highland team there is working closely with Scottish Government ministers to resolve ongoing capacity issues.”
And Mr Stone called on the Scottish Government to rethink its push towards centralisation, saying a "centralised hospital in Raigmore [is] being continuously pushed towards breaking point".
He said: "It is highly concerning to me that Raigmore Hospital is experiencing such capacity issues, especially considering we are entering spring where pressures should be easing following winter.
"The NHS is struggling at all four corners of the UK. The Scottish Government needs to work with NHS professionals in all parts of the UK to get to the root cause of these issues and do everything in its power to help ease the strain.
"It is extremely disappointing that we are not able to make full use of regional hospitals such as Caithness General and the Lawson in Golspie. Instead, we have seen a centralised hospital in Raigmore being continuously pushed towards breaking point.
"The centralisation of health services has had a detrimental impact on rural communities. What works for the Central Belt does not always work for remote areas and it's past due that the SNP understood this."
