A leading healthcare charity representing operating theatre professionals has warned of cancelled operations if predictions of a swine flu pandemic come to pass.
The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) represents over 8,000 professionals working in the UK’s operating theatres – many of which look set to close to provide extra beds for flu patients needing isolation care. It is estimated that across the UK over 18 million could be infected of which 1% – or 180,000 people – will need hospitalising. Many health Trusts are already discussing how to cope with the influx of sufferers to hospital – many needing isolation. One of the options Trusts are pursuing is closing theatres for all but emergency surgery and using the empty theatres as isolation units. Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, for example, has announced plans to shut operating theatres to use as isolation units if the predicted pandemic takes hold. Diane Gilmour, President of AfPP, warned: “If the predictions prove accurate we would see hundreds of thousands of elective procedures cancelled over the anticipated lifetime of the pandemic. The effect on waiting times and workloads would be significant at a time when acute Trusts are working at capacity and there is unprecedented pressure on accident and emergency departments. Extra resources will need to be allocated to perioperative care to deal with the backlog.” Diane Gilmour has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, calling for an action plan to combat the effects of swine flu on operating schedules and waiting lists for surgery once the pandemic is over.
