Sharp rise in operations cancelled at last minute

The number of patients in London hospitals who have had operations cancelled at the last minute has shot up, according to new figures.

The data showing how many operations were cancelled for "non-medical" reasons reveal a massive variation between London hospitals. Some cancelled only a handful, while others delayed surgery planned for hundreds of people. In total the number of operations cancelled across London rose from 2,237 in the 12 months ending September 2003 to 2,606 this year - an average of 50 a week.

The majority of patients affected were readmitted for surgery within a month but 142 were still waiting 28 days later. The increase in cancellations is thought to be caused by the growing numbers of emergency admissions, which take priority.

Critics say it is not acceptable to leave patients in the lurch and the figures reflect a huge waste of money, but managers say some trusts have more pressure on beds and

bigger workloads than others. The figures, released by the Department of Health, show some trusts have cancelled many more operations than the previous year despite a drive to reduce numbers.

St George's Healthcare NHS trust in Tooting, one of the biggest hospitals in the country, saw the biggest rise in cancelled operations in London, at 180.

A spokesman said: "We are getting more and more emergency admissions, up from 230 patients a day last year to about 300.

"This has an effect on our non-urgent patients."

The trust has 50,000 inpatients a year and is taking steps to make better use of theatres and beds.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals trust cancelled the most operations in the 12 months up to September, at 544, and 44 of these were still waiting for surgery a month later.

Hillingdon Hospital trust and Queen Elizabeth trust cancelled only three each.

A spokesman for the British Medical Association said: "It is extremely distressing for patients when operations are cancelled. It is vital that the Government recruits more doctors."

Elizabeth Howlett, Conservative group spokesman for health on the London Assembly, said: "The Government has been hurling staggering sums of money at the NHS. How long do taxpayers have to wait before things get better?"

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: " Overall, the number of last-minute cancelled operations in London has fallen by almost 20 per cent since

2001.

"There were 6,500 more operations carried out this quarter as compared with last year. We are also working to separate emergency and elective capacity."