12/05/2026
Nearly 4,400 scheduled procedures for children were cancelled over the past three years for reasons including lack of beds, patients being too unwell, and clinical decisions.
Figures from Children’s Health Ireland show that more than 700 operations did not proceed because a “ward bed [was] not available.”
However, the number of surgeries being cancelled has dropped substantially, according to data released under FOI.
In 2023, there were almost 1,800 procedures that did not go ahead, which fell to 1,575 in 2024.
Last year, the figure was 1,031 and there were just 82 planned operations called off due to the unavailability of a bed.
In the past three years, the figures show that 463 procedures were called off because a parent or guardian cancelled them.
There were 395 cases where a clinical decision was made not to proceed and at least 21 surgeries where equipment was not available.
A total of 57 procedures were cancelled because there were not enough clinical staff available but there were none of those last year.
Children’s Health Ireland said 117 operations did not go ahead due to the unavailability of an intensive care or high dependency bed.
However, that figure has also dropped markedly from 70 in 2023 to 36 in 2024, before falling even further last year to 11.
https://www.thestory.ie/2026/05/12/more-than-700-procedures-cancelled-by-childrens-health-ireland-because-ward-beds-were-unavailable-for-young-patients/
