Grandad's brain operation cancelled due to beds shortage

Grandfather Clive Pinfold is facing a bleak Christmas after his urgent brain operation was cancelled due to a shortage of beds at Coventry University Hospital



Popular cyclist Clive was diagnosed with a large brain tumour three weeks ago.

He was due to go under the knife last week – the day after marrying Debbie, his partner of 20 years.

But after arriving at Coventry’s University Hospital and preparing himself for surgery, he was told they could not find a critical care bed and would have to send him home.

Clive will now have to wait until the new year for the surgery.

The 64 year-old, who lives near Warwick, said: “I told the surgeon I was devastated because I wanted to get it done.

“But it was difficult for the surgeon as well. He got up early, ready to do a big job. He was totally professional – I can’t fault him at all.”

For a long time Clive put his “shakes” down to the broken neck and brain damage he suffered following an industrial accident.

However, a brain scan revealed a large tumour measuring five centimetres by seven centimetres.

Doctors feared the tumour could still be growing, so booked him in for surgery as soon as possible.

“It’s not great timing right before Christmas,” said the father of four.

“But I’m still trying to look on the positive side.

“They could have shaved my head before they found out there were no beds. Then I would have been sat here freezing all Christmas.”

Clive, who used to race motorbikes with his brother, has overcome adversity before. After his industrial accident he had to teach himself to walk, read and write again.

Now Clive prefers cycling and is a former British Veteran National Road Champion. He has set his sights on making an equally remarkable recovery after his upcoming surgery.

He wants to be able to resume riding for Team Jewson, an elite team based in Coventry.

Clive says he does not want to make a big fuss over the delay as he believes the hospital would get just as much criticism if it was paying for lots of spare critical care beds that were hardly ever used.

However, his disappointment is shared by his family and friends.

Mick Ives, owner of the Team Jewson racing team, said: “This is a terrible blow to Clive and his family. Our thoughts will be with them over the next few weeks.”

Ann-Marie Cannaby, chief nurse and operating officer at University hospital, said: “During winter, extra pressures are experienced by the NHS across the country and we have not been immune to this.

“Unfortunately this has meant that difficult decisions have to be made and on the day Mr Pinfold was scheduled to have his operation, demand for critical care beds was very high for patients with life threatening illnesses and we had to prioritise these patients.

“We completely understand how incredibly upsetting this must be for Mr Pinfold and we apologise to him for the distress this caused but the decision to reschedule his operation was not made lightly or without exhausting all possible options.

"Mr Pinfold has been booked for his operation to take place on 3 January 2012 as we do appreciate how important it is”.