Cornwall’s main hospital has set aside an area where G7 VIPs can be treated if they need to while visiting for this weekend’s summit.

It has already been confirmed that some surgery appointments at West Cornwall Hospital have been cancelled due to increased demand unrelated to G7 and that extra capacity has been put in place for the G7, which will see world leaders gathering in Carbis Bay.

However a source has revealed that dedicated areas have been created by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) to treat G7 VIPs if required.

The area has been described as “small” and assurances have been given that it will be put in place without causing disruption to the hospital and its normal services.

It has been said that it will cause no impact on local people who might need to visit the hospital.

There have also been assurances that the hospital does have additional capacity to deal with any injuries which may occur as a result of protests around the G7.

FROM YESTERDAY:

NHS Kernow, the clinical commissioning group for Cornwall, said in a statement that there was sufficient capacity to deal with any extra demand.

It said: “As at any time when we expect increased demand for our services, we work together with our health and care partners to create additional capacity in our hospitals. We have done this to ensure we are prepared for G7, as we would with any major event in the county.”

The CCG also responded to claims that patients were being discharged from hospital early to create more space for the G7.

It said: “Patients being discharged are, as always, medically fit and with an adult social care package in place when required. This is business as usual for health and social care. It is not good for people to remain in hospital longer than they need to and places additional pressure on our hospitals.

"We work closely with Cornwall Council to ensure it has put in place a social care package to support anyone who is fit and well enough to leave hospital. Especially when our hospitals are so busy.”

West Cornwall Hospital, which is part of RCHT, said that while some procedures were being cancelled it was not linked to the G7.

It said in a statement: “Our hospitals are very busy at the moment. The vast majority of people being seen or admitted are Cornwall residents, although we have seen an increase in holidaymakers since the easing of lockdown restrictions in May.

“To ensure we can care safely for those needing emergency care, we have made a temporary change to the way we are using our surgical unit at West Cornwall Hospital.

“In trying to hold off having to take this step, it meant we postponed a small number of operations at short notice. We are very sorry for the inconvenience to those affected and fully appreciate how difficult this is for them. They will be rebooked as soon as possible.

“There is nothing to suggest current pressures are linked to the G7 summit and hospitals around the country are reporting similar increases in demand.”