Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been reviewing arrangements for patient services following the announcement of Monday 19 September as a Bank Holiday.

The Trust and the clinical teams have worked together to enable as much planned activity as possible to proceed on the Bank Holiday and can confirm that around two thirds of all planned surgical procedures which have been scheduled for this date, including the most urgent operations and cancer cases, will go ahead as planned.

Unfortunately, some routine procedures have been postponed, albeit a relatively small number. We apologise to those patients affected and will seek to reschedule as soon as possible.

Our outpatient services have been more heavily impacted; with around 6 in every 10 appointments postponed, however thanks to the support of our clinical teams we will still provide over 1,000 outpatient appointments on Monday as planned.

As the picture varies across different departments and services, the Trust is now in the process of contacting all patients with an appointment or procedure scheduled for Monday to either confirm it is going ahead or to cancel and reschedule.

Ellen Ryabov, Chief Operating Officer for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:

“We understand some patients will be disappointed to hear their appointments have been postponed. In making our decisions, we’ve had to consider a number of different factors including safe staffing levels, the potential for patients not to attend because they wish to observe the funeral themselves, and the desire among many of our own staff to observe the occasion and pay their respects to our late Queen on the day of the funeral.

“Other factors outside of our control, such as reduced public transport services and closure of community venues where we would ordinarily deliver clinics have also been considered.

“We are therefore making every effort to ensure priority surgeries and urgent appointments continue as planned, including cancer cases, diagnostics and radiotherapy treatments, but many other clinics and some non-urgent procedures are being rescheduled.

“We are now in the process of contacting everyone who is scheduled for an appointment or procedure on Monday to advise whether it needs to be rescheduled or whether it will go ahead. We would ask patients for their patience and understanding as we work through a high volume of appointments and calls, but please be assured we will be in contact.”

Urgent Treatment Centres and NHS111 will be open throughout the Bank Holiday period for those with medical problems of a routine, non-life threatening nature – call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk for advice or details of your nearest centre.