PATIENTS booked in for operations at Dorset’s main two hospitals shouldn’t see too much disruption from sudden cancellations – because Poole and RBCH have already eased down on operations during early January as part of their own winter plans.

Earlier this week NHS England told hospitals they could postpone non-urgent inpatient elective care such as hip replacements until January 31. However, Poole and Royal Bournemouth hospitals say they have factored in the stress on the system caused by seasonal issues such as flu and staff illness.

Poole Hospital’s chief operating officer, Mark Mould, said: “To support the smooth running of the hospital, and to ensure the sickest patients most in need of emergency care can be seen in a timely way, non-urgent inpatient elective care has already been reviewed as part of our routine winter planning and scheduled accordingly.”

He said that around 90 per cent of Poole’s inpatient activity was emergency in nature and that cancer operations and other urgent procedures would be unaffected.

Over in Bournemouth, chief operating officer for Royal Bournemouth, Richard Renaut, said: “As part of detailed annual winter plans we had already reduced our non-urgent elective procedures until January 15 to avoid the very busy winter period.

“We have reviewed the recent guidance and are ensuring we are taking action where appropriate to balance all competing demands.

“We will continue to review this situation daily and aim to keep any necessary postponements to a minimum.”

Because of the pressures caused by flu and other winter illnesses, NHS England has told hospitals it can relax the ‘no mixed sex wards’ rule too, but both RBCH and Poole say this is unlikely to happen.

“We have no current plans to put our patients in mixed sex wards,” said Mr Renaut. “The situation remains at escalated levels, and we are grateful for our staff, partners, volunteers and carers for all they are doing.”

Poole Hospital said patients are 'accommodated in single sex bays, except in very exceptional circumstances and in line with national guidance'.

NHS England’s operation decision was made in the face of its worst winter crisis of modern times, which has seen a doctor in the Midlands apologising for ‘Third World conditions’ in his A&E department, and reports of a parent whose baby couldn’t breathe properly being asked to drive to a hospital in Hampshire because there were no ambulances.

Despite the better news from RBCH and Poole, both hospitals stressed that only those in genuine emergency should attend A&E.

“Our Emergency Department remains incredibly busy and so we encourage you to call NHS 111 and seek advice if you are unsure where to get treatment,” said Mr Renaut.