Press release

NHS cancelled elective operations, quarter ending 31 March 2012

The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health: The key points from the latest release are: During the quarter…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health:

The key points from the latest release are:

  • During the quarter ending 31 March 2012, 16,719 operations were cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons. In the same period in 2011, there were 15,287 cancelled operations.
  • Cancelled operations during the quarter represented 0.9% of all elective activity compared to 1.0% in the corresponding period in 2010.
  • Of these cancellations, 1,052 (6.3%) of patients were not treated within 28 days of a cancellation.  In the same period in 2011, 844 (5.5%) of patients were not treated within 28 days.

NB: The 0.9% was calculated using an estimate of elective activity as the full data for the quarter is not yet available.

Full tables are available on the DH website.

Additional Information

Press enquiries contact:
Press Office
Department of Health
Telephone: 020 7210 5221

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) statistician responsible for producing these data is:

Mark Svenson
Knowledge and Intelligence
Department of Health
Room 4E63, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE
Email: unify2@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Published 11 May 2012