NHS - Postponed Surgery

Having your surgery postponed causes all sorts of issues for patients. There is a knock on effect on your life & the arrangements you have to make. For some it extends the anxiety.

My surgery was cancelled because there was no anaesthetist available.

I think hospital rotas should be flexible so cover can be arranged. When NHS managers know days in advance that someone can't come in & there should be some slack in the system, with cover - like supply teachers. It's a question of paying for enough doctors to be able to deliver a health care service. We should be pressing for good health care for everyone at point of need.

Most recent Postponment Statistics for England for cancellation of elective surgery:-

Quarter 1 - April / June 2016/7  - England
Number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non clinical reasons - 18,730
Number of patients not treated within 28 days of last minute elective cancellation - 1,575

Quarter 2 - July / September - England
Number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non clinical reasons - 19,446
Number of patients not treated within 28 days of last minute elective cancellation - 1,228

Quarter 3 - October / December - England
Number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non clinical reasons - 21,247
Number of patients not treated within 28 days of last minute elective cancellation - 1,550

Quarter 4 - January / March - England
Number of last minute elective operations cancelled for non clinical reasons - 21,219
Number of patients not treated within 28 days of last minute elective cancellation - 1,668

That's 80,642 operations cancelled in one year in England alone.​

In December 2016, across Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS), the NHS employed (full-time equivalent): 106,021 doctors; 285,173 qualified nursing staff and health visitors; 21,604 midwives; 131,791 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 19,392 qualified ambulance staff; 20,858 managers; and 9,866 senior managers.​ The population of England is 65,511,098 - so patently that isn't enough doctors.​ I think that's one doctor for 617.90681 lets say 618 people. Obviously many of those doctors will be GP's not hospital doctors. 

I'd be interested to know how those statistics compare to European & Scandinavian statistics, but am hungry so can't research further.

There is a problem - with the current demographics it will only get worse. The time to find a workable solution is now. It can't be beyond the wit of man.

Hopefully my surgery will take place 4 days late. That's a Friday - are they still going to be able to keep me in for 1 -2 days over the weekend??? I have no idea.