Medics in Borders to resume non-urgent operations at end of month

Elective surgery at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose and other operating theatres across the region will recommence, on a phased basis, on Monday, August 31.

Medical director Cliff Sharp said: “In order to keep our patients and staff safe, we are taking a careful and step-by-step approach to re-establishing our services.

“The reintroduction of some elective surgical procedures from the end of this month is a significant milestone in our recovery plan.

“Whilst restarting routine inpatient and outpatient activities, we will also retain some hospital capacity so that we can treat people with the Covid-19 virus and, if necessary, manage any increase or outbreak of cases in the community as the lockdown continues to be eased.

“There will be changes in the way in which services including surgical operations are delivered, and it is important to be aware of these changes.”

“Surgery can never be entirely risk-free and, as we are currently seeing in Aberdeen and other clusters across the UK, Covid-19 has not gone away.

“It is important that people have the opportunity to consider the risks and benefits of having an operation at the current time. This is all explained in the information that we are in the process of sending out to people waiting for surgery.

“Most importantly, I would ask that people continue to follow the public health guidance issued during the first phase of the pandemic by using their local pharmacy, GP practice or NHS 24 to get advice and help when they need medical care but also emphasise that if you have any symptoms that you are worried about you should not delay making that call and seeking help and advice.

“If you do attend a healthcare setting, please remember to come alone if at all possible, wear a face covering and remember that visiting remains limited to one designated visitor and is by appointment only.

“If we can all continue to pull together, we will be able to build on the good work and sacrifices people have made this last few months.”

Medics at NHS Borders now face a backlog of operations running into four figures, and Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Rachael Hamilton is calling for more support to be provided to enable them to cope with that workload.

Figures from NHS Scotland’s information services division reveal that only 358 planned operations went ahead in March, April and May, 888 fewer than over the same timeframe last year, and only 57 followed in June, down from 328 in June 2019.

“With all non-urgent operations having been postponed since the Covid-19 pandemic, a backlog of operations was going to be necessary in NHS Borders,” said Mrs Hamilton.

“As we continue to see the easing of lockdown restrictions, we must now urgently see the Scottish Government lay out a plan to support NHS Borders in terms of dealing with that ever-growing backlog of operations.

“Our health boards were already working tirelessly prior to the Covid-19 pandemic to try and carry out operations, but they must be supported by proper resources to allow patients to have their long-awaited operations as soon as possible.”