SAN ANGELO, Texas — All elective and non-essential surgical procedures for Shannon Medical Center patients have been delayed to ensure there's an adequate supply of IV fluid for life-saving emergency care, the hospital said Thursday.
Shannon joins hospitals across the country affected by the nationwide IV fluid shortage caused by flooding during Hurricane Helene which led to the shutdown of the largest IV fluid manufacturer in North Carolina, Shannon's primary fluid supplier.
The manufacturer has resumed operations but is not yet at full capacity. The majority of all hospitals are not receiving their usual supply.
Shannon was informed by its supplier Thursday it will not receive its scheduled shipment of IV fluid for the next two weeks. In order to conserve the current IV supply, elective and nonessential procedures are being delayed to ensure adequate supplies are available for life-saving emergency care.
"We understand this is very inconvenient for our patients, many who have waited for their scheduled procedure. We will continue to work with our patients to reschedule their procedures as soon as possible. We appreciate your help as we work together through this situation," a post on the hospital's social media account said.
The hospital is closely monitoring the situation and plans to resume elective procedures as soon as it has adequate supply again.
