Covid: Families 'devastated' by cancer surgery cancellation

The son of a man with pancreatic cancer has said the last-minute cancellation of his surgery has been "devastating".

Jodie Kane said his father Vincent was due to have his operation on Friday.

However, that procedure was cancelled by the Belfast Health Trust on Tuesday as the worsening coronavirus crisis increases the pressure on hospitals.

The trust apologised, saying it had faced an 80% rise in the number of patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals since Christmas Day.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, Jodie said that there was now "no guarantee" his 68-year-old father would get the treatment.

"To be told we had the chance of a very successful surgery on offer and then to have it taken away at the last minute is pretty devastating," he said.

"Even the surgeon himself said they would be concerned if it was to go on more than four weeks.

"There is an uncertainty hanging over us now that we don't know when he'll actually get that surgery or what the impact on his health is going to be."

Vincent, from Newtownards, County Down, did not receive treatment for some of his other symptoms as it was planned that the surgery would help with those.

"Because they were hoping to get him straight into surgery he hasn't had the blockage in his gall bladder addressed so he's jaundiced, he's covered in a rash, can't sleep, he's lost a lot of weight," Jodie said.

"Undoubtedly there are people worse off than us out there but it is still a critical illness that he has got and it is one that we don't have an end in sight for, in terms of treatment.

"There must be a way of helping all those in need, or I suppose if you were being really honest about it those who stand the best chance of surviving - making the decisions for the benefit of them.

"There's no guarantee that in six weeks' time surgery is going to be an option because who knows what's going to happen with Covid?"

Jodie called on those who were breaking Covid-19 regulations to think about the the "direct and indirect impacts" of their actions.

"We've every sympathy for anyone who has a loved one who needs [intensive] care because of Covid but cancer and Covid are both life-and-death situations.

"We can minimise the risks of one of them as a collective society just by taking the necessary precautions.

"It could be someone they love or their neighbour or someone in their community that's in the same situation as us in the very near future."

Flo McClements, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December, found out on Tuesday that her surgery - scheduled for Thursday - had been cancelled by the Belfast Health Trust.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, her son Gregg said the pressure was "mounting day by day" on the the 72-year-old from Ballymoney, County Antrim.

"She had waited all through Christmas for the date and due to the Covid-19 restrictions we as a family had stayed away from her," he added.

"We left her on her own with my dad just to make sure she didn't catch Covid and risk the operation.

"When you get the date you like to think it's the next step to recovery but unfortunately that didn't happen."

Gregg said his mother was "putting on a brave face" but it was difficult for the family to not be with her in person during what was a difficult time.

"That's actually the hardest part that we can't go up and have a cup of tea with her or give her a hug to make her feel a bit better even for a few minutes."

The Belfast Health Trust said it "would like to sincerely apologise" to those affected by the postponement of surgeries.

It said the decision was taken to reduce the number of ill patients on wards that would be more at risk from the virus than others.

"This was an incredibly difficult decision to make and we did not take it without considering all the information available to us," said the trust.

"We do not underestimate the anxiety and distress this causes the patients and families affected and we deeply regret this.

It said it would do "everything in our power" to reschedule their operations "as soon as possible".