EVERY hospital in Somerset has suspended non-urgent elective operations for at least three months.

This is so that staff can be trained, hospital areas can be adapted and critical care capacity increased for when the spread of coronavirus peaks.

Emergency surgery, urgent cases and cancer treatments will continue.

Dr Ed Ford, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) chairman, said: “As the Chief Medical Officer has stated, NHS services are likely to come under intense pressure as the coronavirus spreads, and we need to ensure that we have as many beds available as possible to care for patients with severe respiratory problems when the number of infections peaks. 

“Therefore, in line with well-established plans for situations like this, every hospital in Somerset is suspending all non-urgent elective operations for at least three months, which will enable us to train our staff, adapt certain areas and increase critical care capacity within hour hospitals. 

“Emergency surgery will continue, and urgent cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal wherever possible, but we know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried, and we will be contacting everyone affected as soon as possible.”