AT LEAST one operation has been cancelled after orthopaedic surgeons objected to a new system of packaging surgical instruments. David Pring and Nicolas Van der Hauwaert protested when the trays formerly used for holding surgical instruments were replaced with lightweight boxes.

Hospital management confirmed that one operation had been cancelled, but other sources claimed there had been four: one knee and three hip procedures.

‘The patients were all prepped up and ready to go,’ said the source. ‘They ‘the surgeons’ just had a paddy.’

The hospital spokesman said it was adopting best practice in manual handling techniques and that limited the weight one person could lift.

The Health and Social Services Department had been trying a new sterile theatre-equipment packing system, which is used in the UK, to reduce the weight of heavier sets to below the 7.5kg maximum.

The aim was to prevent staff injuries while ensuring patient safety.

‘The orthopaedic surgeons objected to the new packing arrangements, which unfortunately resulted in one operation, not four as suggested, being cancelled,’ said a Princess Elizabeth Hospital spokesman.

An interim solution has now been reached whereby all overweight sets are labelled as such and lifted by two people.

‘The Sterile Services Department manager, in consultation with all relevant staff, is currently investigating options for a long-term solution to this issue, as the interim arrangement is not the most effective use of staff time.’

A spokesman for the Medical Specialist Group said that only one operation had been cancelled and, while that was regrettable, the surgeons had been acting in the patient’s best interests.

‘The issue is one of patient safety, which is obviously paramount,’ he said.

‘The orthopaedic surgeons felt that the new arrangements presented an unacceptable risk to patients.’

As a result, the surgeons had requested an urgent meeting with theatre and sterile services managers.

‘We are now working with the Health and Social Services Department to come up with a solution,’ said the spokesman.

‘In the meantime a temporary arrangement has been agreed, which is enabling surgical procedures to be carried out as normal.’