CANCELLED OPERATIONS IN CUMBRIA

One of my particular interests in improving the NHS is how we can cut the number of cancelled operations.

Cancelled operations are a triple whammy which is bad news for everyone. They are terribly distressing for the patient and his or her family, bad for staff morale, and represent a waste of resources which has a most unhelpful on the finances of the NHS.

I have been asking questions about the causes of cancelled operations in Cumbria since my appointment to the Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee.

The issue is going to be discussed as item 9 on the agenda of the committee at Cumbria House,  Carlisle on Monday 9th July. The meeting will be held in public, although sadly because of the distances involved and because it takes place during the working day I appreciate that it is difficult in practive for members of the public to attend.

Two reports on cancellations of operations at the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Morecombe Bay NHS Foundation Trust respectively are available to assist the discussion at the meeting and both can be found on the agenda page for the meeting on the County Council website here (ignore the fact that the second one says "to follow" - it's there now.)

I am pleased that the committee is discussing this important subject and hope that by doing so and acting as a "critical friend" we can help the NHS trusts who run services in our county address it.