NHS cancels record number of operations in England

doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7235.599

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Linda Beecham

The number of cancelled elective operations rose to record levels last year in NHS hospitals in England. In 1998-9 more than 56000 NHS operations were cancelled on the day they were due to go ahead—an increase of 12% over the previous 12 months—according to a report from the independent National Audit Office (NAO).

The report shows that hospitals also failed to treat over 9000 patients within one month of their cancelled operation. This was 29% more than in the year before. Twenty per cent of patients waited longer for emergency treatment …