His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar notes the statement issued by the GSD regarding elective surgeries at the GHA which, regrettably, conflates two separate issues, resulting in an incorrect characterisation of the situation at St Bernard’s Hospital.

The cancellation of a number of elective procedures on one day last week was the result of a completely unforeseen and temporary staffing issue affecting the Theatre Services Sterile Unit (TSSU), when four staff members were unable to work due to sickness on the same day. This was not due to bed shortages, which have not been an issue this Summer. Indeed, the GHA’s has introduced numerous strategies, which have ensured that surgical throughput remains protected even during times of high bed occupancy. This was explained by the Minister for Health and Care, Gemma Arias-Vasquez, earlier this month in her budget speech.

The Government’s investment of approximately £1 million in the TSSU has meant surgery cancellations have now halved compared to previous years. The Government is advised by its professionals at the GHA that the recent disruption was an isolated incident and not a reflection of wider systemic issues. However, the GHA are looking at further ways to improve and strengthen the resilience TSSU team internally.

Once again, the GSD have jumped to conclusions and used an isolated incident to draw sweeping conclusions in an attempt to unfairly discredit the professionals at the GHA and in doing so, cause unnecessary and unjustifiable alarm to patients and their loved ones. It is regrettable that the GSD continues to present a distorted view of events, given the reality of the situation on the ground and the significant increase in staffing levels across the board enabled by this GSLP Liberal Government.

The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “While I fully appreciate how disappointing the recent disruption may have been for the small number of patients affected and apologise for the inconveniences caused to those affected, I want to reassure the public that this was an isolated and highly unusual incident, which, I’m told, arose as a result of four members of staff from the Theatre Services Sterile Unit reporting sick on the same day.

“This was not the result of systemic staff shortages. Nor was it due to a lack of beds, which has not been an issue at all this summer.

“In fact, thanks to the significant investment made by this Government in the TSSU, alongside other reforms, cancellation rates have halved, and elective surgery throughput has remained consistent even during periods of high hospital occupancy.

“I am very grateful to the teams at the GHA who acted swiftly and professionally to reschedule the affected surgeries and who work round the clock to ensure the GHA is ready to receive any of us when we need it.”