Sharp rise in hospital cancellations 'shameful'

Overall, there were 28,593 hospital cancellations last month, this compares to 23,549 during the same month last year and 25,118 in January, 2023.

New figures which show there were 5,000 more hospital cancellations in January compared to the same month last year have been described as "shameful".

Cancellations of outpatient appointments, surgeries, and other procedures also jumped by almost 20,000 last year, when compared to 2023.

It comes as paediatric surgeons have expressed "significant concerns" around staffing levels within their field in Ireland.

In a letter to the chair of the board of Children's Health Ireland (CHI), all 12 surgeons at the department of paediatric surgery and urology across the group said there was a risk to the provision of safe and sustainable surgical services within the new children's hospital.

In January, 4,260 cancellations were made across CHI hospitals.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane has hit out at the overall spike in hospital cancellations, saying they are a symptom of everything else that is going wrong in the health service.

Cancellations are driven by overcrowding, a lack of beds, and clinic space, delayed access to diagnostic tests, and understaffing. The last thing that a person needs is to learn that their hospital appointment has been cancelled. 

"In cases where patients are eagerly waiting on results or a procedure, it adds stress and uncertainty that could have been avoided," he said.

Overall, there were 28,593 hospital cancellations last month, this compares to 23,549 during the same month last year and 25,118 in January, 2023.

Appointments and procedures are sometimes cancelled to alleviate pressure on emergency departments and tackle high trolley numbers.

However, despite the large increase in cancellations, last month trolley figures hit record highs.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded more than 13,972 people who were been treated in hospitals without a bed in January.

Mr Cullinane has now called on the health minister and the HSE to implement significant changes to address issues in the health services.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded more than 13,972 people who were been treated in hospitals without a bed in January.

"That must start with a fully-funded plan to increase hospital capacity and improve the efficiency of the system. 

"The minister for health must outline clear funding to deliver new hospital beds, new elective centres, and safe staffing levels, as well as a robust plan to clamp down on waste and inefficiency within the health service."

Responding to a parliamentary question tabled by Mr Cullinane, the HSE stated that hospitals may need to defer planned procedures and appointments due to "increased ED attendances and admissions resulting in a reduction in availability of bed or theatre capacity for planned procedures".

The statement also cited "unforeseen circumstances including weather events, infection outbreaks or industrial action," as well as "sick leave or staff shortages" as reasons for cancellations.

Meanwhile, in their letter to CHI, surgeons have said that the national model of care for paediatric surgery "clearly outlines" the need for 17 paediatric surgeons by 2028.

However, the surgeons have said that the recommended increase in paediatric surgeons has not been included in the definitive business case for the new children's hospital.

"This will result in failure to implement this model of care, which poses a risk to the provision of paediatric surgical services nationally and will impact negatively on the provision of safe and sustainable surgical services within the new children's hospital.

National Children's Hospital. Picture: NCH

"This is at a time when there is significant ongoing pressure for paediatric surgeons to meet HSE targets for new [out patients department] appointments, while continuing to deal with the growing elective surgery waiting lists."

The "serious" matter was raised in the Dáil on Wednesday by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

She said: "The surgeons outline bizarrely that the plans for opening the new children's hospital will see it understaffed from day one."

In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said CHI has been working on the matter for quite some time and a whole range of structures have been set in place to facilitate a smooth transition from the existing paediatric hospitals and tertiary hospitals to the new national children's hospital.