The reintroduction of of non-urgent elective procedures will be delayed due to continuing high numbers of patients in intensive care.
NHS Lanarkshire took the decision in January to temporarily postpone all non-urgent elective procedures and a targeted range of outpatient appointments.
This allowed the health board to focus acute service delivery on COVID-19 inpatients and emergency care.
Treatments for urgent cancer care remained in place and all three acute sites continue to operate an emergency service for theatres and diagnostics.
The number of patients being treated in Lanarkshire hospitals with COVID-19 have now dropped to 102 as of yesterday, March 9, falling from a high of around 350 during the second half of January.
However, COVID ICU numbers remain high, peaking at 25 in late January and currently sitting at 10 as of March 9.
When you include non-COVID patients, 25 ICU beds are currently occupied, with 21 of these level-three patients who require advanced respiratory support and monitoring.
Judith Park, NHS Lanarkshire director of acute services, said: “The number of COVID-19 patients in our hospitals is falling.
“However, ICU numbers remain stubbornly high for both COVID and non-COVID patients and there is still continued pressure on our resources.
“There are challenges to overcome before we are able to reintroduce non-urgent outpatient appointments and planned procedures but we will continue to review this on a weekly basis.”
Ms Park went on: “There are other challenges to consider such as availability and wellbeing of critical care staff, some of whom are redeployed, and we continue to have strict control measures in place such as physical distancing measures which impacts on ward space.
“We are also busy caring for patients who don’t have COVID, as highlighted in the high number of non-COVID patients we currently have in ICU.
“The safety of our patients and staff is of paramount importance and we continue to take all necessary action to ensure safe and effective patient care.
“The decision to postpone any appointment is not one that we take lightly and I apologise for the impact this will have on patients. Most patients will receive a text message confirming the postponement of their appointment.
“A small number of appointments will still go ahead as scheduled. Appointments will be prioritised based on clinical need and those patients who are deemed clinically urgent will be rebooked.”
Dr Rory Mackenzie, University Hospital Monklands chief of medical services, added: “One of the reasons ICU numbers aren’t falling as quickly as overall hospital numbers is because of a lag with the numbers due to patients spending a substantial amount of time in ICU. One of our patients recently spent 67 days in ICU – 61 of them on a ventilator – at University Hospital Hairmyres.”
Maternity and neonatal clinics will continue as normal in the meantime.
Appointments for urgent referrals, including cancer referrals, will also continue.
For the latest health advice, see NHS Inform’s coronavirus page.
A free helpline has been set up for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice: 0800 028 2816
