“Severe pressures” within children’s healthcare services sees 15,000 operations cancelled

The Royal College of Nursing says the NHS is in a “dangerous state”, after new research by the Liberal Democrats revealed that nearly 15,000 children’s operations were cancelled in 2022. Urgent action to address chronic healthcare services.

The number of cancelled children’s operations rose by 23% in 2022, growing to 14,628 – the highest level seen in the past five years – with some children waiting for nearly three years.

Reasons for the cancellations include a lack of beds (4,000), a lack of staff (2,894), a lack of theatre time on the day or because lists were overbooked (1,100), and equipment problems (446).

University Hospitals Birmingham cancelled 3,160 children’s operations – more than any other trust – while Birmingham Women and Children’s cancelled 2,217 and Milton Keynes University Hospital cancelled 1,284.

However, children have been waiting for the longest at hospitals including Leicester General (1,083 days), Hull University Teaching Hospital (1,008 days) and Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (917 days).

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the findings should be worn as a “badge of shame” by the Conservative government, and he has called for a “rescue plan” to bring health services “back from the brink”.

“Behind these figures are countless children and parents having to wait in pain and distress. Years of neglect by this government have led to chronic staff shortages and a lack of hospital beds, with communities across the country paying the price,” he added.

Timely treatment prevents the need for more care in the future

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers said: “Trust leaders are acutely aware that far too many children are waiting far too long for the care they need because of significant shortages of beds, staff and equipment.

“We’re seeing severe pressures on children’s services right across the health and care system.

“Mental health referrals, including for children and young people, are at an all-time high with long waits also being seen for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and other key community services including those for neurological needs such as autism and ADHD.

“It’s really important that children and young people receive timely treatment given their developmental needs but also to prevent more care being required further down the line.”

Cancelled operations will have caused stress and anxiety for children and their parents/carers

RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, has echoed these concerns, saying that each cancellation will have brought “stress and anxiety” for children, their parents and carers across the country – as well as the nursing staff caring for them.

“Every day nurses are being put in impossible situations while they struggle to care for patients, including children facing life threatening conditions, without enough staff.

“We urgently need the long-promised workforce plan to recruit and retain the nursing staff needed for safe patient care. Only then will we begin to fix the crisis that is engulfing our NHS and give people the care they need and deserve,” she said.

Lauren Nicolle

Lauren is a qualified journalist who writes primarily across the health and social care sectors. She is passionate about exposing the injustices faced by people with a learning disability, with a particular focus on equal access to healthcare.

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