Temple Street blames winter ills for cancelled surgeries

Temple Street Children’s University Hospital has blamed an increase in admissions for respiratory illness in recent days for the cancellation of planned surgery on several patients. However, sources claim the cancellations are in an attempt to meet HSE targets for waiting times in emergency departments.

The hospital cancelled 18 elective surgical day cases on Friday and three inpatient cases. On Thursday, five inpatient cases were affected. They followed eight cancellations last week.

Management at the hospital said the decisions were taken as a result of an increase in “winter-related” admissions, particularly in babies under 12 months who require careful monitoring.

However, a source said there was mounting concern among medical staff that cancellations were the result of national targets to reduce emergency department waiting times.

Pressure

That places pressure on management teams to find beds, which leads to a reduction in the number of surgeries, the source said. Temple Street denied this was the case.

Orthopaedic surgeries, as well as a number of eye, ear and nose procedures, were affected this week.

“To have a blanket cancellation the night before is intolerable. It means the system has failed,” a source said.

“Cancelling means they are being put on waiting lists that are running six months into the future.

“There are concerns this is a trend that has no solution. Capacity will be full next week and there will be cancellations. Elected cases are not ‘safe’ cases. They are time sensitive.”

Frustrated

Staff expecting to treat these patients are frustrated, the source said.

However, Temple Street management insisted all patients are treated according to clinical need, and safety is paramount.

“The priority with regard to admitting these very young children with respiratory illnesses such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which can be life-threatening, is to ensure their safety and they are further prioritised according to their clinical needs.”

RSV is a seasonal virus and the leading cause of respiratory illness in children. It is responsible for 50 per cent of pneumonia cases in infants and up to 90 per cent of bronchiolitis cases. It is also highly contagious.

Temple Street is currently caring for 40 inpatients with respiratory illness, 26 of whom have RSV.