Cambridge: Cancelled Operations

28 January 2013, 06:00

Heart's found out there has been a large rise in operations cancelled by Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, on the day they were due to take place.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show 1,709 operations were cancelled by the hospital just hours before they were due to be carried out in 2012.

The figure is almost a 60% rise on the 2011 number of 1,079.

Around 38,000 operations are carried out at Addenbrooke's, which is the Major Trauma Centre for the East of England, every year.

The rise is being blamed largely on a shortage of beds at the hospital, particularly during January 2012 when around 300 operations were cancelled by Addenbrooke's on their scheduled day.

Director of Operations at Addenbrooke's, Tom Bennett, said bed spaces are being increased, commenting: "We've found ways to increase our capacity.

We've created a couple of smaller wards on the site where we had some space, and also by using private companies to care for patients in their own homes.

When we run out of beds, it's a real disappointment for the patient, and a disappointment for the surgeon, because her or she wants to treat these patients."

Figures show that so far in January, fewer than 30 operations have been cancelled on their scheduled day.