Hospital chief apologises to patients facing long waits for treatment

In four months, around 200,000 outpatient appointments at four hospitals in the area have been cancelled – at a rate of 3,000 a day – along with routine surgery and hospital procedures.

The Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s chief executive, Chris Long, said people would have to wait longer for operations and other procedures.

He said: “Due to the reduction in productivity, it is going to take years to recover. I’m afraid there is not going to be a quick fix.”

Hull Royal, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull Women and Children’s Hospital and Hull Eye Hospital are “attempting to resume” surgery and outpatient clinics against the backdrop of the virus and social distancing.

In a video message, Mr Long told patients he was “really, really sorry”, adding: “None of us want to see people in pain or want to see people suffering or having to wait.

“We are doing everything that we can to try and get through the work. We are doing everything we can to change the way that we do things and we are looking at how to work with partners to do some things differently.

“We are absolutely focused on getting you treated as soon as we possibly can.”

The trust is working with the private Spire Hospital in Anlaby so those most in need are treated. All but urgent life or limb-saving surgery were cancelled following the lockdown in March.

Since March 19, there have been 203 deaths from Covid-19 at Hull Royal and Castle Hill, with 24 patients, confirmed or suspected of having the virus, still being treated.

Two new wards for coronavirus patients are being constructed at Hull Royal.