HC Deb 19 April 2002 vol 383 c1227W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to broaden the definition of a cancelled operation. [47857]

Mr. Hutton

Data on cancelled operations are currently collected for last minute cancellations, where a hospital cancels a patient for non-clinical reasons on the day the patient is due to arrive or after arrival in hospital, and on where a hospital cancels a patient for non-clinical reasons on the day of surgery.

Data are also collected on the number of patients readmitted within 30 days of cancellation (Patients Charter standard) and within 28 days of cancellation (NHS Plan guarantee).

There are no current plans to broaden the definition of a cancelled operation.