Virus impact on surgery waiting times to be 'significant'

There will be a “significant impact” on waiting times for surgical operations in the coming months, the health secretary has warned.

Jeane Freeman said up to 50% of all operating theatre use could be affected by the ongoing need for infection control.

Freeman updated MSPs on efforts to re-mobilise the health service in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday and revealed that a new plan to redesign cancer services will be set out in the autumn.

She said: “The number of patients who can be seen, diagnosed and treated in the time-frames of before will clearly be reduced by the continuing and necessary infection prevention and control measures.

“Such as altered patient floors, appropriate bed spacing, physical distancing, PPE requirements and time needed for additional cleaning between clinical sessions.

“Early estimates are that up to 50% of operating theatre throughput could be affected in the coming months.

“We will augment local capacity by using national resources at NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Louisa Jordan and there will of course be variation between boards.

“But I want to be clear, this will have a significant impact on the time many patients have to wait for treatment.”

Acknowledging the anxiety this will cause many patients, Freeman added: “I wish it was not so.

“I regret that we cannot mobilise to the degree and at the speed we all wish for.

“But as we continue to deal with the virus and the aftermath of the first months, there is no choice.

“We have to continue to balance the competing demands and pressures, making the best decisions we can, none of which are easy and none of which are taken lightly.”

She said there will be a “very significant” increase in waiting times for the March to June period when the figures are published.

The Health Secretary also spoke about plans to increase eligibility for the winter flu jab.

Freeman said it will be “challenging” to vaccinate 2.25 million people by the end of the year, 840,000 more than last year.

The new cancer recovery plan will put the experience of patients at its heart, she said, including more use of video technology and quicker decision-making.