100s of ops cancelled at last minute

Hundreds of operations have been cancelled at the last minute at a Black Country hospital over recent months.

This works out to be an average of almost one operation being called off every day.

Hospital bosses at Walsall Manor admit that they have cancelled some 229 procedures just two thirds through the financial year.

This is compared to a total of 280 in the whole of the previous 12 months.

It means it is now on track to miss its target of no more than 0.85 per cent of operations being cancelled at the last minute, with a current rate of 1.15 per cent.

Councillor Mike Bird sits on the borough’s health, social care and inclusion scrutiny panel and said he was worried about the number of cancellations.

“I think we need an in depth investigation.

“It is surely no coincidence that they are trying to save all this money at the moment. We fought tooth and nail to stop the Manor amalgamating with New Cross, but I think patients are now being let down by the management.”

A report from the hospital’s performance director Sue Hartley said: “There were 40 cancelled operations at last minute in the month of November for non-clinical reasons, bringing the year to date position to 229.

Brigid Stacey, chief operating officer, said: “The number of cancelled operations has been mainly due to operational reasons and as a result of emergency pressures we have been facing.

“This has been the case not just in our organisation but across the whole of the West Midlands,” she added.