One in 10 NHS Operations Cancelled at Short Notice, Study Finds

Friday, April 24, 2026

A study of NHS elective surgeries in England found that about 10% are cancelled within 24 hours and another 9% postponed during preoperative assessments, potentially amounting to 300,000 disruptions annually. Researchers highlight that nearly 40% of these cancellations could be avoided through earlier detection of health issues and improved clinical pathways, aiming to reduce waiting lists and improve surgical scheduling efficiency.

Approximately one in ten elective surgeries in England are cancelled at short notice or postponed, according to a recent study examining NHS operations. Researchers found that 10% of scheduled procedures were cancelled less than 24 hours before the planned date, while an additional 9% were postponed during patients’ preoperative appointments.

The analysis covered elective surgery data from 91 NHS trusts over a seven-day period in November 2024. Extrapolating these figures to the national level suggests there could be around 300,000 last-minute cancellations or postponements annually across England’s healthcare system. The study’s authors estimate that nearly 40% of these disruptions might be preventable with improved processes.

The investigation, conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Central London Patient Safety Research Collaboration, NHS England, University College London, and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, identified the primary reasons for cancellations. These included medical issues, patient no-shows, operating list overruns, and emergency admissions. In 37.3% of cases, the study found that if these problems had been detected three to five days earlier, the scheduled operation could have proceeded as planned or the available slot reassigned to another patient.

Among postponed surgeries identified during preoperative assessments, nearly two-thirds resulted from patients requiring further tests or consultations with specialist clinicians before undergoing their procedure. The findings suggest gaps in early patient screening and preoperative preparation.

The study, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, calls for an overhaul of clinical pathways to enhance early identification of health issues that could impact surgical outcomes. Lead author Dr. James Bedford of University College London emphasized the need for earlier detection of conditions that might increase postoperative risks. “We need to ensure we identify health problems, which put patients at risk of postoperative complications, as early as possible, so that these can be improved while they are waiting for their operation,” he stated.

These developments come amid growing concerns over NHS waiting lists, which reached just over six million patients awaiting treatment as of the end of February 2025. The findings highlight opportunities to improve scheduling efficiency and reduce avoidable cancellations within the NHS elective surgery system.