NHS Fife postpones non-urgent outpatient appointments and non-urgent surgical procedures

NHS Fife is postponing non-urgent outpatient appointments and all non-urgent surgical procedures amid the rise of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The health board says that it's to protect emergency and cancer care in the coming weeks.

It also says that healthcare services in the Kingdom are still under considerable strain due to a significant and sustained rise in the number of patients requiring care for both coronavirus-related and non-coronavirus related conditions.

But emergency procedures, trauma and cancer procedures will carry on, while patients affected by non-urgent outpatient appointments are being contacted directly to be advised of their postponement, while anyone not contacted should attend their appointment as arranged.

Meanwhile, visiting restrictions are continuing, limited to just one individual.

NHS Fife is aiming to mitigate the impact of the new variant of the virus on services that are already under high pressure.

Despite these pressures, throughout 2021 NHS Fife has continued with much of its outpatient and non-urgent surgical programme to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment.

Carol Potter, the chief executive of NHS Fife, said: "Since being declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation in late November, we have been preparing our services for the likelihood of a significant rise in the numbers of patients requiring inpatient care due to the effects of Covid-19.

"With omicron circulating widely across the UK, and proving to be even more transmissible than previous variants, we need to act now and retract all non-essential activity to ensure our services are suitably prepared to respond to this new and evolving threat.

"This will involve us pausing non-urgent surgery along with non-urgent outpatient appointments.

"Cancer, trauma and emergency care, including diagnostics, will continue as before.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we recognise the impact this may have on those who have already waited a considerable time to be seen.

"Unfortunately, we are still very much learning about this new variant and until we have a fuller understanding of its likely impact, we need to prepare our healthcare for a worst-case scenario, and this means taking the necessary action to protect emergency care."

Within the last week, capacity for coronavirus vaccinations in Fife has increased by more 70% with around 4,000 Fifers vaccinated on Sunday 19 December alone.

Nearly 80,000 coronavirus vaccination appointments have been made available across the Kingdom in the coming weeks as part of efforts to protect local people against the worst effects of the virus.

Tens of thousands of appointments remain available over the course of the next three weeks in clinics across the region.

Dr Christopher McKenna, medical director for the health board, said: "While there are many unknowns about the new Omicron variant, there is clear evidence that getting fully vaccinated remains the best means of reducing your risk of serious illness from the effects of the virus.

"It is easy, particularly if you are young, to assume that you are not at risk of becoming seriously ill due to the virus, however, right here in Fife we have seen young people who are otherwise well requiring care in our ICU.

"Indeed, very many of those who have required care in our hospitals due to the effects of Covid-19 could have very likely avoided this by taking up the offer of vaccination when it was first offered.

"In response to the spread of this new variant we have made literally tens of thousands of extra vaccination appointments available between now and early January.

"I would urge anyone who is eligible, whether they require a first, second or a booster dose, to take up that offer and book an appointment as soon as possible."

Vaccination appointments can be booked in a few clicks by visiting NHS Scotland's vaccination portal.

There are also a number of drop-in clinics available in Fife where no appointment is necessary.

Details of all upcoming drop-in clinics are available on the NHS Fife website.