More than 350 children’s operations in Sussex cancelled over past five years

110 children’s operations have been cancelled at hospitals in Sussex last year, many due to a shortage of staff and beds, shocking figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

The data, obtained by the Liberal Democrats through Freedom of Information requests, shows that 64 children’s operations have been cancelled due to a lack of beds and 99 due to staff shortages since 2018. Another 20 were cancelled due to equipment problems, such as machines being faulty or not being available. 

Some children at one local NHS trust were left waiting more than 500 days for an operation, the data suggests; West Sussex did not supply this information

110 children’s operations were cancelled in 2022, a very small decrease of less than 10% compared to the year before.

The Liberal Democrats are urging the government to come up with a rescue plan to bring health services back from the brink. This would include bringing in a proper plan to tackle workforce shortages in the NHS, investing in newer equipment and increasing bed capacity at local hospitals.

Commenting Liberal Democrat Spokesperson John Milne for Horsham said:  

“Behind these shocking figures are countless children and parents in our community having to wait in pain and distress.

"Years of neglect by this government have led to chronic staff shortages and a lack of hospital beds, and now local families are paying the price.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for a rescue plan now to bring local health services back from the brink. That must include increasing bed capacity and tackling staff shortages so people aren’t left waiting so long for the care they deserve.

 “The local elections in May are a chance to send this out of touch Government a message that people are fed up being taken for granted, and want to see more investment in fixing our local health services.”