Cancelled Operations (Hansard, 26 February 2002)

HC Deb 26 February 2002 vol 380 c1091W 1091W

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many operations were cancelled in each region in each of the last three years, broken down into those cancelled(a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more before treatment was obtained; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of total operations carried out; [37143]
(2) if he will give a breakdown of reasons for cancelled operations in the last year in each health authority region that are defined as non-clinical cancellations. [37312]

§ Mr. Hutton
Data are not collected on the number of times operations are cancelled or on the non-clinical reasons for cancelling operations.
The National Health Service Modernisation Agency is working with a number of trusts in order to optimise theatre utilisation and reduce cancelled operations. The pilot sites involved in the project are identifying good practice arrangements to avoid cancellation of operations. The lessons learned are being shared with the rest of the NHS.
The nine pilot sites are showing good progress. Six out of nine pilots achieved the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee in December 2001, with the other three achieving the guarantee for over 90 per cent. of patients.

§ 30. Mr. Cameron
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce the number of cancelled operations; and if he will make a statement. [34731]

§ Mr. Hutton
The NHS Plan sets out our intentions for improving the national health service. From April 2002, if an operation is cancelled on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to offer another binding date within 28 days or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice.
The NHS Modernisation Agency is looking at optimising theatre utilisation and reducing cancelled operations. The lessons learned are being shared with the rest of the NHS.
The nine pilot sites involved in this work are showing good progress. Six out of nine pilots achieved the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee in December 2001, with the other three achieving the guarantee for over 90 per cent. of patients.