Counties Manukau Health is postponing an average of 13 elective surgery and outpatient appointments a day in a bid to manage the Omicron outbreak.
Manurewa resident Ben Cullen had an appointment for a prostate scan at Middlemore Hospital postponed last week due to the latest Covid-19 outbreak. Photo: STUFF / Chris McKeen
It comes after it had to cancel or reschedule thousands of elective surgical procedures and outpatient appointments in 2021, during the Delta outbreak.
Ben Cullen, a Manurewa resident, had an appointment for a prostate scan at Middlemore Hospital last week. However, it was postponed because of the latest outbreak.
The 65-year-old underwent life-saving surgery for bowel cancer in 2021.
"It's a hassle because I was hoping to get [the scan] done, especially after the surgery I've recently had," he said.
On Monday, there were 344 people in hospital with Covid-19 nationwide. Of those, 128 were in Middlemore Hospital.
Counties Manukau Health's clinical director of surgery, anaesthesia and perioperative services, Dr John Kenealy, said in a statement the district health board had postponed 138 non-critical surgical procedures in the past 10 days.
"As we anticipated there is pressure on the system as Omicron cases surge, with increased patient numbers and impacts on staff availability," he said.
"Postponing non-urgent elective surgery is an action that we use whenever hospital resources are stretched and there is pressure on the system."
Kenealy said there had been no disruption to acute or urgent surgery, and some less urgent surgery had continued when capacity had allowed.
"Most patients are understanding of delays and changes due to the pressure on the health system. To create capacity following delays in surgery we extend our operating hours, or we outsource to other providers."
He said while the health board had seen a reduction in outpatient appointments, staff were using virtual consultations where they were appropriate, as well as in-person consultations when clinically necessary.
Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Malcolm Mulholland. Photo: STUFF / David Unwin
However, Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Malcolm Mulholland said the backlog in elective surgery and outpatient appointments had been building for some time.
"With New Zealand hospitals the question that needs answering is how does the Ministry of Health intend to deal with an ever-growing backlog of elective surgeries and outpatient services?
"Based on what has happened overseas, it is very reasonable to predict that more diagnostic assessments are going to be urgently required," he said.
"We are going to have to play catch-up yet again with both surgeries and the needs of people with a chronic illness, and mental health needs that are already at sky-high levels in New Zealand will increase considerably."
The Ministry of Health has been approached for comment.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air