February 8, 2001 14:31: A SHORTAGE of equipment has led to tonsillectomy operations being cancelled at Farnborough Hospital.
Staff in the ear, nose and throat department have had to put off operations for two weeks due to a shortage of disposable theatre instruments.
The problem can be traced to a new Government directive which advised surgeons not to perform tonsillectomies until disposable instrumentation is available to reduce the risk of infection.
But the manufacturers have been unable to keep up with demand, leaving the hospital short of equipment.
Dozens of youngsters have had operations cancelled and hospital bosses say they will have to wait for at least another three to four weeks until the sets arrive.
Rose Gibb, operations director for the trust said: When we got the Government guidance, we immediately approached manufacturers to provide the trust with the equipment we sorely need.
Demand for these instruments has been so great nationally, that all manufacturers are having problems.
As the instruments arrive, the trust produces disposable tonsillectomy sets, which enables priority tonsillectomies to be undertaken.
The national body representing ENT doctors gave us additional guidance, strongly advising surgeons not to perform tonsillectomies until they receive disposable instrumentation.
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