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Life after the cancer strategy: analysis of surgical workload in the general hospital setting

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Abstract

Background

The National Cancer Strategy heralded a major reorganisation of the delivery of cancer services in Ireland. As a result of this policy, cancer care was centralised to eight centres. The impact of this strategy on hospitals no longer providing cancer services has not been analysed to date.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of centralisation of cancer services on surgical workload at Mayo General Hospital.

Methods

Data pertaining to all surgical procedures performed in 2007 (prior to the introduction of the National Cancer Strategy) and 2011 were obtained using the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system. Histopathology reports and theatre registers were also analysed to ensure accuracy of the data.

Results

The numbers of elective and emergency surgical admissions during 2007 and 2011 were broadly similar (2,581 vs. 2,662). One hundred and thirty-five oncological procedures (colorectal and breast) were carried out in 2007 compared with 50 (colorectal) in 2011. This represents a 63 % reduction in cancer surgery workload following the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. There was a concomitant increase in surgery performed for benign conditions (laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernia repair), which coincided with the innovative introduction of 43 ring-fenced surgical in-patient beds in June 2010.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the impact of the centralisation of cancer services on surgical workload in a non-cancer centre. Our results show that there continues to be a role for general hospitals in the provision of elective surgical services. Hospital network arrangements have the potential to facilitate such developments.

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Acknowledgments

Tthere is no source of funding to be declared.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this study have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland

    E. Concannon, I. Robertson, W. Khan, R. Waldron & K. Barry

  2. Department of Histopathology, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland

    F. Bennani

Authors
  1. E. Concannon
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  2. I. Robertson
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  3. F. Bennani
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  4. W. Khan
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  5. R. Waldron
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  6. K. Barry
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Concannon.

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Concannon, E., Robertson, I., Bennani, F. et al. Life after the cancer strategy: analysis of surgical workload in the general hospital setting. Ir J Med Sci 182, 433–438 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-013-0906-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-013-0906-1

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