Scottish Government says NHS Highland must not cancel cancer operations on account of coronavirus
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The Scottish Government has hit out after NHS Highland cancelled a woman's cancer operation.
Saying it had been clear with health boards that cancer operations should not be cancelled, it said people should be treated in line with clinical priority.
The statement came after one 54-year-old woman attending Raigmore Hospital in Inverness was told her surgical procedure would be cancelled, when only minutes before she was told it would go ahead the following day.
The woman, a dentist who did not want to be named, is waiting for urgent treatment for cervical cancer.
NHS Highland confirmed late last night that it had cancelled the operation due to coronavirus concerns.
In a statement, Katherine Sutton, NHS Highland’s head of acute services, said: “There are a number of operations being rescheduled while the hospital is developing its state of readiness in response to the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
"The decision to cancel any operation is not one that we take lightly and all efforts are made to ensure that any cancellations are kept to a minimum and we apologise to all patients that are affected. Any patients that have been cancelled are prioritised and rebooked as quickly as possible."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have been clear with boards that they will maintain a full cancer and urgent service. Cancer operations should not be cancelled and we fully expect NHS Highland to ensure patients are treated in line with their clinical priority.
“The NHS in Scotland has a strong track record in responding to the challenges presented by coronavirus. Our planning will always use the scientific and clinical evidence and we are actively working to ensure we have the staffing, resources and equipment in place.
“As part of that planning, boards have plans to double critical care capacity and are looking at ways of increasing their general hospital capacity.
"This means some non-urgent procedures may have to be postponed.
"Retaining the care that is critical to people’s lives will be central in our guidance to health boards.”
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