Nottingham hospitals make operations pledge as flu and norovirus cases skyrocket

Nottingham hospital bosses have pledged not to cancel any scheduled operations due to winter pressures which have begun to impact NHS services. Both the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital have seen cases of flu and norovirus skyrocket in recent weeks, a trend which is being mirrored nationally.

The number of patients with flu has more than doubled compared to last year, while cases of norovirus have shot up 86 per cent, prompting some ward closures across both hospitals and the opening of a temporary ward. Meanwhile, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) has been continuing to tackle its elective (non-urgent) surgery waiting list, which currently stands at around 3,300 patients.

Capacity is usually reduced over the winter as more resources are allocated to growing emergency admissions, but the trust is hoping to power through the season cancellation-free. Of those waiting, 49 patients have been on the list for more than a year, well below the government's 18-week target.

But it is a marked improvement on two years ago, when some people had been waiting for two years for routine hip and knee surgery. “The waiting list is much longer than anyone would like it to be but there’s still work to do," said consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Ben Bloch.

“[Patients] will be in pain, arthritis is a chronically painful condition and it’s important that we get to them as quickly as we can." He said winter could be a "very frustrating" time but added: "We’re pleased that last year we didn’t cancel any elective operating lists because of winter pressures and we intend to do the same this year.

"There are always pressures around wintertime, particularly seasonal viruses like norovirus, flu and covid, but I’m hopeful we can protect our planned surgical pathways. We’ve noticed some ward closures on this campus, thankfully now reopened, but it’s always a problem and you have to encourage relatives to stay away if they’re not feeling well and the patients to use the services wisely."

Among the ways NUH is seeking to streamline operations is its short-stay hip and knee replacement pathway, introduced last year, which aims to discharge patients on the same day as their surgery. Shannon Clarke, who was aiming to do just that on Monday, December 16, said she was looking forward to going home and resting before Christmas, despite admitting she was a "Grinch" about the festivities.

“The surgery was fine, it was interesting to be conscious but not really feeling anything, so it was really good. Everyone’s been very nice and helpful," she said.

The 75-year-old retired social worker said she had been on the waiting list for more than a year for a knee replacement, but was "sympathetic" with the hospital. "I wasn’t in agony, it's just that my leg didn’t work very well. I wasn’t mardy about it as we say in Nottingham."

Across the ward, 83-year-old Michael Brown was taking longer to recover, having undergone a left knee operation before the weekend. The Eastwood resident said he had been in “horrendous pain” after the surgery, but was looking forward to being discharged and enjoying some fresh air.

“It’s a total relief," he said. Liam Kitt, a physiotherapist who runs patients through exercise programmes before they are ready to go home, said the same day discharge did not mean patients would be rushed home.

“There will be some people that won’t be suitable to go home the same day and that’s why we go through a stringent process. If they’re not suitable to go they will stay in," he said.

“No-one is rushed out here, if they are needed to they will stay in." Other methods being used by NUH include dual operating theatres, which gives surgeons the potential to complete as many as 10 hip or knee replacements a day, double that of a single theatre.

Dr Dave Briggs, medical director for the wider NHS system in Nottinghamshire, urged people to get up to date with their vaccinations to help reduce pressure on services. “Flu is circulating more than at the same time last year, so it’s really important to get vaccinated if you are eligible," he said.

"With the data showing that a high rate of young people are being affected, we’re also urging parents to take up the offer of the nasal spray flu vaccine for their children. If you have a long-term condition and you catch flu this winter, you may reduce your chances of being hospitalised by up to a third, just by getting vaccinated.”