100,000 appointments cancelled in Galway hospital over 18 months

More than 100,000 hospital appointments in the West’s main hospital were cancelled in the past 18 months, the HSE has confirmed.

New figures released to Aontú confirm 61,232 appointments were cancelled at University Hospital Galway last year.

And so far this year, up to the end of June, there were a total of 44,220 cancellations of appointments at UHG.

Aontú representative in Galway, Luke Silke, said cancer screening, diagnostics and cancer treatment should never have been paused or reduced during the pandemic.

“I believe people lost their lives as a result,” he said.

The hospital initiated 34% of all cancellations, around 36,000. Patients initiated the cancellation of almost 14,000 procedures, or 13% of the total.

More than half are in an ‘other’ category, where the cancellation has been for numerous reasons including because the patient has died while on the waiting list.

Other reasons include the appointment was brought forward and the appointment was moved to accommodate other cancellations.

“The capture of all reasons was not possible in real time during the recent cyberattack,” said Chris Kane, General Manager of UHG and Merlin Park.

“It is important to note that not all hospital-initiated cancellations should be viewed as negative . . . in 2020 almost 4,000 patients had appointments brought forward and 155 were discharged back to their GP,” added Chris Kane in response to Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín.

Luke Silke said the cyberattack has had a considerable impact on cancellations, but he also blamed Covid-19 and Government curtailing hospital services during the pandemic.

“Many of the restrictions resulting from Covid-19 were well warranted to help curb the spread of the virus, but the Government was wrong to shut down our health service to the extent that it did. We all know someone who died with Covid-19, but we also all know someone battling cancer at the moment,” said Mr Silke.

“Cancer, no more than Covid, is a real threat to the lives and health of our population. Cancer screening, diagnostic services and treatment for cancer should never have been paused or reduced. Cancer services are essential,” he insisted.

The HSE’s winter plan has Government funding that will restore cancer services to 95% of pre-Covid capacity before the end of 2021.

“This is not good enough,” according to Mr Silke.

”Enormous backlogs have accumulated in the system, so capacity needs to be greater than it was pre-pandemic. The timeframe for restoration of services is also unacceptable. The first seven weeks of this year saw a 53% increase in GP referrals to Rapid Access clinics for cancer treatment,” he added.

“These figures suggest that capacity needs to be increased to 153% of the pre-Covid capacity. I understand people are fearful of the hospital setting, and are afraid of a fourth wave, but this fear must not prevent people from going to hospital.”