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Staff shortages most common reason for cancelled operations

Analysis of non-clinical reasons for cancellations in England paints a stark picture amid record-high staff vacancies, which the RCN says threaten patient safety
Operation

Analysis of non-clinical reasons for cancellations in England paints a stark picture amid record-high staff vacancies, which the RCN says threaten patient safety

Picture: iStock

Some 30,000 operations were cancelled last year in England due to NHS staff shortages, new figures reveal.

Data collected from NHS hospitals under freedom of information requests show staff shortages were the most common reason given for cancelling, accounting for one in five of all operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons in 2021-22.

Data show range of reasons for cancelled operations

The Labour Party’s analysis also found 13,000 operations were cancelled because of a shortage of beds, 5,700 because of equipment failure, 15,500 as theatre lists overran and 9,500 because an emergency case took priority.

In total, around 158,000 operations were cancelled for non-clinical reasons by NHS trusts, of which an estimated 10,000 were urgent operations, 2,500 were operations for patients with cancer, and 8,000 were operations on children.

Picture: iStock

NHS staff vacancies continue to rise

The latest data from NHS Digital show staff shortages are at a record high, with 47,496 full-time equivalent (FTE) registered nurse vacancies in the NHS in England at the end of September.

Across the NHS in England, more than 133,000 FTE posts remain unfilled.

Nurse shortages are leading to ‘unsafe’ patient care, says union

Workforce shortages are one factor informing the RCN’s planned strike action, with record shortages adding extra strain on nurses and putting patient safety at risk.

The college has previously warned that the NHS is at breaking point and urged health and social care secretary Steve Barclay to change course on pay negotiations. RCN director for England Patricia Marquis said workforce gaps and poor pay have made care ‘unsafe’.

The RCN met with Mr Barclay last night in an effort to avert strike action. RCN general secretary Pat Cullen confirmed strikes would still go ahead after it became clear nurses were ‘not getting an extra penny’.

Multiple factors ‘threaten to exacerbate the situation’ in NHS

Interim chief executive at NHS Providers Saffron Cordery said Labour’s findings show just how much pressure NHS trusts are under.

‘The failure of multiple governments over many years to deliver an effective NHS workforce plan is at the root of this growing problem,’ she added.

‘Now, looming strike action and rapidly rising demand threaten to exacerbate the situation this winter.’

Labour has pledged to train a ‘new generation of nurses’ but it is unclear how those nurses would be recruited.


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