SCHEDULED bowel surgery at Noble’s Hospital has been temporarily suspended following higher than expected complication rates in patients.
Medical director Stephen Upsdell said this type of surgery was often high risk and it was not uncommon for a healthcare organisation to take such steps as part of good patient safety.
He said: ‘The decision to suspend a service is never one that is taken lightly, however safety is always paramount and our overriding consideration. We have temporarily suspended colorectal surgery whilst we investigate practices and procedures. Our investigations are likely to include an external review.’
Patients requiring elective colorectal surgery within the next few weeks will be referred to an NHS Trust in the UK and their surgery will be performed as planned. Only a relatively small number of patients will be affected.
Emergency colorectal surgery will continue to be performed on-island at Noble’s Hospital.