Cancellation of Cancer Operations

Oral Answers to Questions — Health, Social Services and Public Safety – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 16 September 2002.

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Photo of Prof Monica McWilliams Prof Monica McWilliams NIWC 3:00, 16 September 2002

2. asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many cancer operations were cancelled last year due to lack of available intensive care unit beds.

(AQO 25/02)

Photo of Bairbre de Brún Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin

Níl teacht furasta ar an eolas seo san fhoirm inar iarradh é agus níorbh fhéidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach.

That information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Photo of Prof Monica McWilliams Prof Monica McWilliams NIWC

I am disappointed by the Minister’s answer. That information should be available because cancer patients are being told to prepare for operations that require intensive care beds, only to be told that their operation has been cancelled.

My question is based on the case of an elderly woman who was admitted to the Ulster Hospital. On four occasions she prepared for an operation by fasting so that pre-operative medication could be administered, and on four occasions her operation was cancelled. She was sent home, told to fast, and to wait for a telephone call. A message cannot be sent out that the Health Service will tolerate such practice. Members must be told how many operations were cancelled in the past year because no intensive care beds were available.

Photo of Bairbre de Brún Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin

That detailed information is not available because of the way in which it is collected and collated. The cancellation of operations causes anxiety for cancer patients and their families. However, all trusts prioritise patients with suspected or diagnosed cancer, and they take all possible measures to minimise delays. Trusts have reported that cancer operations are rarely cancelled because intensive care beds are unavailable.

That will not be of much comfort to the small number of people who have been affected. However, although the Department does not collect statistics centrally, it is a matter that trusts prioritise and on which they take all possible action. Among other tasks, they ensure that procedures are in place to reschedule operations as soon as possible. Since I became Minister, I have taken considerable care to increase the number of high-dependency beds and intensive care beds that are available.

Photo of Mrs Annie Courtney Mrs Annie Courtney Social Democratic and Labour Party

I share Ms McWilliams’s response to the Minister’s reply. It is disappointing that those answers are not forthcoming. Anyone who has cancer, or whose life is at risk, deserves a proper explanation as to why his or her operation has been cancelled, whether it be due to the lack of an intensive care bed or to the lack of a surgeon. That came through loud and clear in the latest waiting list report. More operations are being postponed — sometimes for six months. I want the Minister to inform the House of those figures as soon as possible.

Photo of Bairbre de Brún Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin

There is a major difference between patients not being told the reason why their operation has been postponed and my not having that information collected centrally. The fact that such information is not collected centrally does not in any way suggest that patients are not told why their operations have been cancelled.

I wanted to give an answer that was not based on information that trusts were able to give me from their own knowledge. That answer is that operations are scheduled by prioritising patients who have suspected or diagnosed cancer. It is rare for a cancer operation to be cancelled for that reason. Since 1999, when I became Minister, there has been significant expansion in the number of intensive care and high-dependency unit beds. It has considerably reduced the problems caused by the lack of availability of critical care beds. I accept that, occasionally, during peak periods, it is possible that all intensive care and high-dependency unit beds can be filled, which can result in urgent operations being postponed. Although such procedures are usually rescheduled quickly, I am, of course, not happy that any operation can be affected by the lack of such beds.

Photo of Derek Hussey Derek Hussey UUP

With regard to the lack of intensive care unit beds, will the Minister clarify whether the major problem lies with the facility infrastructure or with the lack of staff? Will she also explain what action she is taking to remedy the problem?

Photo of Bairbre de Brún Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin

As I have said, considerable work has been done to increase the number of intensive care and high-dependency unit beds. One of the first tasks that I undertook to do when I became Minister was to ask the Chief Medical Officer to review intensive care services. All 10 additional intensive care beds recommended by the Chief Medical Officer have been brought on-stream. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is clear that intensive care beds are available and staffed to support patients who require such care. However, the demand for those beds occasionally exceeds availability, and some operations might be temporarily delayed. As I said, immense action has been taken, given the cost of bringing on-stream both intensive care and high-dependency unit beds. It is not simply a question of funding; it is also a question of staff. When the Department examines how it can develop better services and the profile of each of the hospitals, it will also consider where intensive care and high-dependency provision needs to be.