A hospital has cancelled all operations until the new year amid claims its theatres are "filthy" and “in a dreadful state”.
The private Spire Hospital in Bristol has informed patients it will not carry out operations between December 23 and January 6.
The hospital says it has stopped surgeries temporarily so it can make improvements.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, told Bristol Live a family member’s operation scheduled for today at Spire was cancelled with with just a few hours’ notice.
She claimed the family was told it was because there was an issue with cleanliness.
The woman also said the Spire employee told her the hospital’s general manager had resigned due to problems at Spire.
But a Spire spokesman said the general manager was “going anyway” to another provider in the sector, adding that the departure is “unrelated” to the cancellation of operations.
In a letter to staff, a hospital director wrote last week: “Any annual leave approved will be honoured. No future annual leave can be taken.”
Asked why annual leave cannot be booked and how long this will be the case, a Spire spokesman said the hospital is “not aware” of any such restriction.
A whistle-blowing employee said: “The theatres are in a dreadful state of poor cleanliness. They are filthy and have to be deep-cleaned.”
This worker claimed the cleanliness issue is the reason for the cancellations.
A 63-year-old Wickwar man who was set to have his gall bladder removed on January 3 said he was left “hyper-stressed” by the cancellation.
He claimed the hospital phoned yesterday to inform him and refused to give a reason for the surgery being postponed.
“All they told me was it was a senior management decision,” he said. “They didn’t even give me a new date.
“When I asked if they realised the impact it would have on me, the line went dead.”
The patient said no one from Spire made an attempt to call him back, so he contacted the secretary of his consultant at the hospital.
“It’s a bit crazy really, because she didn’t know anything about it,” he added.
“My operation is not an emergency, but it’s not just about physical discomfort. I’ve been stressed out of my head.
“I’ve never had an operation in my life. I wanted to have it done privately so it would be sorted as soon as possible.
“It’s costing me £5,700. When you’re paying that sort of money you expect premier service, not a cancellation.”
The patient revealed he has been so stressed about the operation that his doctor has prescribed him beta blockers.
He called Spire to be “open and honest” with patients about what is happening.
Hospital director Douglas Pattisson said operations have been cancelled so improvements can be made.
Last week’s letter to staff reads: “As you will be aware, we had a clinical team visit on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
“The positive outcome is that time will be allocated for us to get some of the outstanding areas finalised in readiness for any CQC [Care Quality Commission] visit which is, in reality, business as usual.
“It will also allow us to get some essential maintenance work and deep cleaning underway, during this period of relative lower activity.
“I will also stress that rumours will stretch the imagination – Spire Bristol remains in a good place, we are financially viable, no one is taking over Spire Bristol or Spire Healthcare and we remain well-respected by the senior team at the Centre.”
A hospital spokesman declined to comment on the “clinical team visit” and said no CQC inspection is scheduled.
He added: “We wouldn't operate if our premises weren't clean.”
A hospital spokesman said he is unaware of any cancellations except for those between December 23 and January 6.
Anyone who has their operation cancelled will be prioritised for treatment on the earliest dates in 2020, he said.
Outpatient bookings will continue as normal.
Mr Pattisson said: “Many Spire hospitals close over Christmas and New Year each year but Spire Bristol remains open.
“As planned activity is naturally lower over the Christmas period, we have decided this year to reduce our activity at Spire Bristol between Monday, December 23, and Monday, January 6.
“This will enable us to make a number of improvements around the hospital.”
