NHS & non-essential operations

[ianess]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but is the current national news item even newsworthy or is it just designed to cause political discomfort?

The way I read the situation is that an elderly, very unfit woman is complaining that a non-essential, non-life-threatening operation has been cancelled [presumably for good reasons] even after being advised that her chances of surviving the op are only put at 50%.  Am I wrong?

Any comments most welcome.

[Miss Zippy]

I think the story has been distorted somewhat.  Whilst I feel for someone having had an op cancelled 7 times, because this particular woman has a heart condition (unrelated to the planned op, which is on her shoulder), post-op she would need the use of a high dependency unit bed and this is where the problem has been; at the time of her ops all these beds have been taken up with people in (presumably) life or death situations. So, yes, there is a good reason why her ops have been cancelled.

[keen2learn]

I think they're trying to make another Jennifer's Ear out of it, and it has the potential to backfire in the same way. Anyone involved in the case can't, or shouldn't. get involved or comment because of patient confidentiality, but the available information suggests that the patients blocking the HDU beds are being very unreasonable. They should leap to their feet immediately and make room for this non-essential surgery to go ahead.

[OBonio]

Exactly what I said to my wife last night.  She's alive isn't she?  Maybe if she saw it like she's possibly saved 7 lives instead of the me, me, me attitude.. I must say I'm very disappointed in Mr Howard.  But then again, they all do it.  Anybody out there worth voting for?  Andy Hughes I reckon.  Seems like a sensible, level headed, honest chap.

[sandbach99]

According to the paper between 2002/3 to 2003/4 the trust employed 6 more dentists and doctors  54 less nurses, midwives and health visitors,  closed 2 intensive care beds but employed 78 more administration staff.   
Yes this surgery is non life threatening, but she is in intense pain and has been for several months, imagine a broken leg or arm not in plaster!,  I would have thought that the trust would have requested a nearby trust to treat this woman if they were unable to, but that would cost her trust money and might mean one less new administrator