Operations

Summary

The requester asked for the number of operations cancelled since April 1, 2021, and specifically how many were due to staff shortages. Manx Care provided a breakdown of cancellations by various recorded reasons but stated they do not record 'staff shortages' as a specific category, though they acknowledged ongoing staff issues in a separate public statement.

Key Facts

• Manx Care does not record 'staff shortages' as a specific reason for operation cancellations in their systems.
• A total of 1,076 operations were cancelled by patients.
• 643 operations were cancelled by the hospital before the day of admission.
• Elective surgery was temporarily suspended due to a shortage of specialist theatre staff caused by unfilled vacancies and sickness.
• The authority offered to send elective surgery patients to the UK if they wished.

Data Disclosed

• April 1 2021
• 1076
• 643
• 252
• 112
• 85
• 69
• 30
• 9
• 8
• 6
• 2
• six weeks
• 2035709
• 2021-10-13
• 2021-11-09

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

How many operations have been cancelled since April 1 2021. Secondly how many of these operations have been cancelled because of a lack of staff available.

Data Tables (4)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 2035709 9th November 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 13th October 2021 and which states:

"How many operations have been cancelled since April 1 2021. Secondly how many of these operations have been cancelled because of a lack of staff available." Our Response While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. However, Manx Care can offer the following information: Cancelled Operations. Offer outcome Count Cancelled by patient 1076 Cancelled by Hospital before the day offered for admission 643 Hosp. canc. no bed/theatre 252 Cancelled by Hospital on the day offered for admission 112 Hosp canc admin error 85 Hosp. canc. medically unfit 69 Hosp. canc. no equipment avail 30 Hospital cancel (non-clinical reason) on the day offered for admission 9 Hosp canc emergency admission 8 Hosp. canc. awaiting results 6 Hosp canc transfer other hosp 2 The above categories represent the reasons for cancellation that are recorded on our systems. We do not record "staff shortages" as a reason.
To provide advice and assistance, as reported in the public domain, via Manx Radio [Thursday, October 14 2021] titled Elective surgery temporarily suspended at Noble's Hospital, available at: https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-mannews/elective-surgery-temporarily- suspended-at-nobles-hospital/ “The health body has offered an apology for those affected and says it's considering sending some elective surgery patients to the UK, if they wish. Meanwhile the hospital’s elective

surgery programme may continue to run at a reduced level for up to six weeks as a result of the ongoing shortage of specialist theatre staff due to unfilled vacancies and sickness absence among staff. Manx Care says it will continue to clinically prioritise all activity and ensure urgent and emergency and time-sensitive operations, including cancer operations, are prioritised” Please quote the reference number 2035709 in any future communications.

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