Coronavirus: Belfast Trust cancels urgent cancer surgeries

The Belfast Health Trust has said it has no other option but to cancel all of its urgent cancer surgery.

These are known as red flag cancer cases where an operation is expected to impact on a person's recovery and even surviving the disease.

The Department of Health has confirmed to the BBC that it's estimated that one in 60 people in NI have Covid-19.

It is understood the trust expects "many 100s" of new Covid patients in the next three weeks.

The demand for bed space is described as "highly significant", while a source added that all is being done to "find beds and staff".

They continued: "People in here are moving heaven and earth to find beds in anticipation of what is coming and that's why some cancer patients even those who have been told their case is urgent are having their surgery cancelled."

Effectively the move means that choices are already being made within the health service about who should receive critical treatment.

'Deeply worrying'

The daughter of a 66-year-old woman who was told her surgery has been cancelled has described the move as "deeply worrying".

"Mummy was diagnosed with cancer of the lining of the bladder in November, it's since spread to the muscle wall of her bladder. She was told in December her surgery was urgent - but now it's been cancelled.

"She is so frightened, it is just horrendous and I'm sure mum is not alone."

While a cancer patient might have been told their case is critical and that treatment is necessary within weeks, some Covid patients are also being told that in order to survive they require treatment immediately.

With the number of cases soaring this is worse than the first lockdown and according to health professionals there is worse to come.

The BBC understands that the health minister is expected to respond to the problem in the coming days.

It is hoped that he will announce a regional approach to tackling cancelled surgeries among the various health trusts.

Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55572871