Planned operations cancelled due to hospital staff sickness levels

A NUMBER of planned procedures and appointments are being cancelled at the Gilbert Bain Hospital due to a high level of staff sickness and a lack of beds.

NHS Shetland said in a short statement late on Monday afternoon that all clinically urgent procedures will happen as planned.

Affected patients will be contacted individually, a spokesperson for the health board said.

“A combination of patients with longer lengths of stay, patients waiting for transfer for specialist hospital care, limited community beds and staff sickness levels across both acute and community settings mean the hospital is under extreme pressure,” the spokesperson said.

“Staff are doing all they can to ensure we can continue to admit patients safely who need emergency care and we maintain safe staffing levels.

“Some of our services may see staff redirected from their usual roles to working in the hospital setting.”

The measures are temporary but could last until next week, when an update on the situation is expected.

Meanwhile people feeling unwell, “particularly with any respiratory or gastrointestinal illness” are advised not to visit friends or family in the hospital, or in one of the islands care homes.