Perioperative medicine & outcomes
The Postponement and Cancellations in Elective Care study: a national evaluation of case postponements and cancellations in elective surgical pathways
Authors' conclusion
The Postponement and Cancellations in Elective Care study provides the first national overview of elective surgical pathway disruption in the UK.
Study context
- Population
- Elective surgical pathways in participating NHS England trusts (78 trusts with complete incidence data)78 trusts
- Outcome
- National incidence of postponements at preoperative assessment and of cancellations within 24 h of planned surgery
Methodological details7-day, national, multicentre, November 11-18, 2024; data collected via online platform
- 7-day
- National
- Multicentre
- November 11-18, 2024; data collected via online platform
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Preoperative assessment postponement incidence (of 22 573 appointments)
8.7%
95% CI 6.9–10.8%
Cancellation incidence within 24 h (of 19 905 planned procedures)
9.9%
95% CI 8.7–11.3%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Causes of postponements and cancellations
- Postponements due to further investigation or tests
- n=595, 27.2%
- Cancellations due to acute medical conditions
- n=515, 23.8%
- Cancellations due to list overruns
- n=315, 14.5%
Original publication
The Postponement and Cancellations in Elective Care study: a national evaluation of case postponements and cancellations in elective surgical pathways. Br J Anaesth. Published 24 April 2026. doi:10.
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