LAST-minute cancellations of operations by Ipswich Hospital are today reducing, according to new figures.In the first six months of this financial year the hospital had to cancel 150 operations, while in the same period last year they cancelled 199.

LAST-minute cancellations of operations by Ipswich Hospital are today reducing, according to new figures.

In the first six months of this financial year the hospital had to cancel 150 operations, while in the same period last year they cancelled 199.

The figures, which were released by the Department of Health, only show operations that have been cancelled due to things like staff sickness, a lack of available beds or another operation over-running.

They do not include operations that have been cancelled because the patient is too ill for it to go ahead.

The cash-strapped hospital currently has plans to close two operating theatres but Jan Rowsell, hospital spokeswoman, denied this would have an adverse impact on the figures.

She said: “It is great to see that this number is coming down and it is one of our highest priorities to ensure it is kept at an absolute minimum.

“We know that one cancelled operation is one too many as it is a huge strain for both the patient and staff and we will continue doing everything we can to bring the numbers down.

“No theatres have been closed yet but we will be changing the way we bring people in to hospital and making sure we are using theatres more efficiently.”

The number of cancelled operations should also drop significantly when the new Garrett Anderson centre opens.

Ms Rowsell said: “This will have a huge impact on the figures as there will be theatres in there which will only be used for planned operations and not emergency care.

“That way the theatres and beds are 'protected' and there is less chance of anything happening which means an operation will need to be cancelled.”

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Cancelled operations: the figures

These figures show the number of last-minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons.

The figures in brackets show the number not rescheduled within 28 days.

July - September 2006: 67 (1)

April - June 2006: 83 (10)

January - March 2006:103 (3)

October - December 2005: 82 (8)

July - September 2005: 78 (9)

April - June 2005: 121 (4)