CANCER patients in Glasgow have been told that surgery is continuing “where possible" after figures were released suggesting there has been an 87% drop in potentially life-saving operations across the UK.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh today called on the government to increase the number of 'Covid-free hubs' in hospitals to ensure more cancer surgery can go ahead.

It warned that surgeons were facing “impossibly difficult questions” about whether to operate because attempting to cure a patient might lead to them developing the virus, risking their recovery.

Some patients have been left to decide themselves if they wish to go ahead with cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said patients were being assessed on a ‘case by case basis’ and said every effort was being made to shield people from the virus who are undergoing treatments.

However, the board did not give any further details about whether dedicated areas have been set up for cancer surgery or the amount of surgery that has been cancelled.

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A survey by the college suggests only 53% of health boards and trusts have set aside areas of hospitals specifically for cancer surgery.

The Scottish Government has said private hospitals are being utilised for ‘vital and urgent care.’
Professor Michael Griffin OBE, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said:

“Surgeons are facing an extremely difficult time right now when it comes to performing surgery in what we call COVID-rich environments.

“Operating in a hospital where COVID-19 is present could pose a huge risk to patients who are already unwell, and major surgery would make them markedly immunocompromised and therefore at an even higher risk of developing complications should they contract coronavirus.

“In addition, there is a risk for the teams performing these operations and a need to ensure they are protected appropriately from transmission of the virus to ensure they can continue working safely in their vital roles.

“Surgeons are left facing an impossibly difficult question – should I be operating or not?

"If you don’t, you could reduce the chances of curing a patient’s cancer, but if you go ahead, you could be increasing their chance of catching COVID postoperatively and risking their recovery.”

A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “Wherever possible, cancer treatment is continuing and we are following the National Cancer Treatment Response Group’s most recent advice.

“Any decisions on treatment are being made on an individual patient basis by clinicians in discussion with the patient and, where appropriate, the multidisciplinary team involved. 

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“For patients undergoing appointments and treatments, every precaution has been taken to shield patients from virus. 

“All our staff are trained in the correct procedures and will be wearing appropriate PPE to ensure that patients are not put at risk.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are working hard to ensure vital and urgent care remains, including the use of private hospitals to treat these NHS patients.

“However, we recognise the significant pressure that our NHS is under and we cannot underestimate the risks from COVID-19 particularly for some cancer surgical procedures and, therefore, for some cancer patients treatment plans may change over the coming weeks and months”.