Most planned operations and appointments are going ahead at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital and Welwyn Garden City’s QEII despite advice from NHS England to postpone them in order to ease winter pressures.
The NHS stated on Monday that hospitals across the UK could cancel routine planned appointments and operations so that they could focus on the increased ‘winter pressures’ felt in emergency rooms throughout January.
But while the East and North Herts NHS Trust – which runs the Lister and QEII – admits its hospitals are very busy and some surgery may need to be postponed, it says appointments and most operations are currently going ahead.
The NHS trust issued a statement saying: “As is the case across the NHS, the NHS trust’s hospitals are very busy at the moment due to winter pressures. “The situation is being reviewed daily and whilst outpatient appointments should continue as normal, some planned surgery may need to be postponed.
“The key messages for patients are that outpatient appointments are going ahead as planned – if this changes, patients will be contacted individually
“Those due to undergo planned surgery should assume it is going ahead unless contacted otherwise.”
The NHS trust says people who need urgent medical advice should phone NHS 111 to be directed to the best place to get the care they need, and a spokesman added: “The NHS trust very much appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding in helping our staff to provide good quality care for patients, especially those arriving as emergencies. ”
Alternatively you can visit NHS Choices online here
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