Hip replacement op cancelled again

I arrived at 7-30am as requested, had blood tests, blood pressure check and saw the anaesthetist and surgical registrar, and also signed the consent form. I sat in a waiting room in my hospital gown waiting to go to theatre when I was informed there were no orthopaedic beds in the hospital due to a trauma patient being admitted via A&E.

I cannot fault the staff at all, they were brilliant! My problem is with the management who do not realise the effect the policies they implement have affected the hospital. I have now had an offer of having my operation at Burnley General, but not until January 6th. This will be 12 weeks from my promised first operation! Blackburn Royal cannot cope with the merging of both hospitals. It’s a shambles.

Sharon Boyes

In response, Gill Simpson, Director of Operations at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We sincerely apologise to Mrs Boyes for the late cancellation of her operation. 

“The Trust was managing an internal situation on Tuesday which followed a surge in attendances at A&E and the Urgent Care Centres over the weekend and Monday and put immense pressure on the number of beds available for patients having planned surgery. We had to cancel some surgery planned for Tuesday on Monday afternoon.

“In Mrs Boyes’ case, we expected to have a bed available on Tuesday morning but, unfortunately, this was not the case and we were unable to carry out her planned operation. We have now offered her an alternative date.”