All surgery apart from the most critical cases has been temporarily suspended at Cornwall's hospitals due to ongoing pressures including a continued high level of Covid admissions.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust said it had been a "difficult decision" but that planned routine and urgent surgery would not be taking place until further notice, so that teams could concentrate on emergency admissions.

It added that there had been "no let up" in the pressures the hospitals were facing, including with a rise in Covid admissions – with more than 40 people currently in hospital after testing positive for the virus.

RCHT medical director, Dr Allister Grant said: “With Covid-related admissions remaining high and health and care services in Cornwall under continued pressure, we’ve taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend planned routine and urgent surgery at our main hospitals, so our clinical teams can care for people needing emergency admission.

“There has been no let-up in demand and currently have more than 40 people in hospital who are Covid positive and nearly 50 more who are contacts and need to be isolated.

"A large proportion of the patients admitted for other medical problems or injuries have been unaware they have Covid until tested on admission and need to be cared for in separate areas to other patients.

“Our staff are working flexibly and extraordinarily hard to help us care safely for the higher numbers of people in hospital with Covid.

 

Hospitals in Cornwall are facing no let up File picture: Getty Images.

Hospitals in Cornwall are facing 'no let up' File picture: Getty Images.

"This includes the orthopaedic and breast surgery teams at St Michael’s Hospital and the surgical unit team at West Cornwall Hospital, who have changed the role of their wards to care for medical patients, whilst we get through what we hope will be the peak of Covid-related admissions.

“Anyone whose appointment needs to be changed will be contacted directly – there is no need to call us – otherwise patients should continue to come to hospital as planned, following the pre-admission instructions they will have received.

“We will go ahead with critical surgery for people with cancer, life and limb saving need, cardiology, and sight-saving procedures. We will also continue our work with the Duchy Hospital in Truro to carry out as many operations there as we can.

“Our pressures are compounded by the unprecedented demand on the ambulance service, the severity of illness of those needing emergency admission, and more than 100 people in our three hospitals who are ready to leave but are in need of care or support packages.

"We are working hard with our colleagues across the NHS, in social care and voluntary services to ease the pressures we are under.

“Both residents and holidaymakers can really help us, help them by making sure they choose the right services when it’s not a 999 emergency.

"By calling their own GP first or contacting 111, we will be able to concentrate on those in most need of specialist care and help us get ambulance crews back on the road.”

Mario Dunn, chief executive of Healthwatch Cornwall, described it as an "unwelcome announcement" and said it was important to make the suspension as brief as possible.

He said: “While we understand the need for this temporary measure it will come as an unwelcome announcement for those expecting surgery.

"It is important that RCHT resumes planned routine and urgent surgery as soon as possible.”