PATIENTS booked in for elective orthopaedic operations such as joint replacements at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital could find them cancelled and deferred during July because of a national consultant crisis.

Reports understood to have come from a leaked 'round robin email' at the hospital claim that up to 150 people could be affected by the crisis which has come about because of a government change in rules for pensions contributions. Consultants who agree to work overtime to reduce hospital waiting lists have been slapped with giant bills linked to the value of their pension. The issue is a national problem with some consultants reported as having to re-mortgage their homes to pay the bills, whilst others claim the rules mean they have effectively had to pay their own money to work.

It is reported that none of RBCH's consultant anaesthetists are prepared to help with the 53 sessions of surgery, said to involve up to 150 procedures, that are not being covered.

In a statement the Royal Bournemouth Hospital admitted this was the case. "Our anaesthetic team offer a great deal of flexibility to cover vacant lists for which we are very grateful, with many consultants routinely working over their contractual hours," it said.

"Every month we have some theatre lists which are circulated asking for volunteers to do extra sessions and as a result, the vast majority of these do get covered. Whilst the national pension issue is a contribution to the 53 theatre lists to cover for July, involving up to 150 procedures, there are also vacant consultant posts and we are interviewing for these for the future."

The hospital said it was prioritising its lists so the most urgent operations will continue. However: "More routine lists, such as elective orthopaedics for joint replacements, may be deferred. Patients are and will be given notice of any such cancellations. These will be minimised as much as possible and the goodwill of all staff to treat as many patients as possible through regular operating lists will continue, until a national solution is found."

The hospital was visited by Health Secretary and failed Tory leadership candidate Matt Hancock last week. RBCH says it spoke to him about the consultant crisis. "We know it is on his agenda as being taken up by NHS Providers and the BMA," said the hospital.

The issue was also the subject of a debate last month in the House of Commons, called by Poole MP Sir Robert Syms.

"Some people can be worse off overall by working an extra shift," he told the House. "I have heard testimony to that effect from many doctors who say they have done additional work and ended up worse off."

He referenced the example given to him by Poole radiologist Dr George McInnes. "He said to me that most of his radiologists are contracted for 10 sessions, with most working 11 or 12 as a matter of norm to keep the throughput going," said Sir Robert. " However, as is the case in most hospitals, he now finds it terribly difficult to get them to do more than 10, and when people come to review their contracts, they ask to do less work, rather than more, because of the impact of the pension arrangements.