A further 45 patients have had their operations shelved at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary today as pressures continue to build at the flagship hospital.
It comes after 20 non-emergency procedures were postponed on Monday as staff battled high numbers of people seeking treatment at accident and emergency plus a number of “seriously unwell” patients being cared for at the hospital.
NHS Grampian has now categorically denied that it ran out of mattresses as patient number swells.
The claims were made by a patient who had attended ARI yesterday for a routine treatment. Instead of being taken to a ward as normal, Kate Barnett, 44, was asked to sit in a chair for the eight-hour session before eventually being assigned a bed.
On Monday, a spokeswoman declined to respond to claims that ARI had run out of mattresses.
This morning, a statement said: “NHS Grampian categorically denies the suggestion we have a shortage or mattresses or drugs as has been reported today.
“We have opened additional areas to cope with the current pressure which may mean that in the lead up to these areas receiving patients, equipment may be in transit and not immediately available. We would emphasise that for sound safety reasons, clinical areas are not open to patients until all the necessary arrangements are in place.
“Aberdeen Royal Infirmary remains very busy but staff are working hard to care appropriately for their patients and we thank them for their tremendous dedication. We are also grateful to the public for their understanding at this time.”
Issues at ARI come as hospitals across Scotland and the UK handle high demand on services.
Operations were postponed at Lothian and Greater Glasgow and Clyde, with 17 hospitals in England either enforcing major incident plans or reporting significant strain on services.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian added: “Aberdeen Royal Infirmary remains very busy but staff are working hard to care appropriately for their patients and we thank them for their tremendous dedication. We are also grateful to the public for their understanding at this time.
“We continue to ask people who need medical advice or treatment to carefully consider which service is best for their illness or injury – such as pharmacists, GP practices, opticians and other professionals.”