Some Elective Surgery Postponed

Some Elective Surgery Postponed At Hawke’s Bay Hospital Next Week

Some elective inpatient surgery will be postponed next week (June 29 - July 3) at Hawke’s Bay Hospital due to an influx of patients with respiratory illness and the demand on ICU services.

Acting chief executive Warrck Frater said the hospital was experiencing a surge in acute respiratory illness, which coupled with an increase in staff sickness and a high demand on ICU services, meant elective inpatient surgery would be postponed for a week to relieve pressure on inpatient services.

Patients booked for elective impatient surgery would be contacted and given a revised date as soon as possible, he said.

“We are reluctant to postpone elective inpatient surgery and apologise to those patients who have been inconvenienced but it is the only immediate action we can take to help relieve pressure,” he said.

Surgery for cancer and high risk patients would go ahead as planned.

Patients with queries regarding planned elective inpatient surgery could call 0800 450 -113 for further information.

Mr Frater said due to the number of patients with respiratory illness A1 Ward had been dedicated to managing all adult patients with the illness, which would also help limit the spread of infection through the hospital, Mr Frater said.

Visiting to A1 would be restricted to one visitor per patient and visitors would be asked to use the hand sanitisers provided before entering and on leaving the ward, he said.

Visitors with cold or flu like symptoms are being asked not to visit patients to help prevent further infection.

Children with respiratory illness would continue to be managed in the paediatric ward

Mr Frater said inpatient surgery planning would be reviewed again next week and a decision made whether it was necessary to postpone further elective surgery then.

ENDS

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