What can you do if your surgery is cancelled?

Every year, in England, there are thousands of elective operations cancelled by the NHS due to non-medical reasons. Having an operation cancelled can be stressful and frustrating for patients, especially if you were relying on the surgery to address pain you have been suffering from.

Unfortunately, cancellations do sometimes happen and this can be for many reasons. In this article, we will be discussing what happens if you have your surgery cancelled at short notice.

Why are surgeries cancelled at the last minute?

Sometimes, planned operations are forced to be cancelled at short notice, which can be extremely upsetting for patients. There are both medical and non-medical reasons for having an operation cancelled. Here are some examples:

Medical reasons to cancel surgery

• Acute illness – while common colds, coughs and fevers may normally seem insignificant, they can seriously affect operations as they increase the risk of anaesthesia complications. For example, they can cause airways spasms, breathing issues and in rare cases, pneumonia. If you are deemed to have an acute illness on the run-up to your operation, it may be cancelled.
• Chronic conditions – while those with chronic conditions are still able to have surgery, they must be controlled successfully in order for the procedure to go ahead. Some chronic conditions that may affect operations include diabetes, high or low blood pressure, anaemia, respiratory disease and cardiac disease. If these conditions are not controlled, they can pose serious health risks associated with surgical procedures.
• Failure to follow pre-op instructions – before having certain surgeries, you may be required to follow some instructions, such as fasting, stopping medications, not applying any lotions or perfumes and removing any makeup, nail varnish or body jewellery. Failing to follow these instructions may result in your operation being cancelled.
• Missing pre-op preparation – sometimes, certain tests and assessments are required to be carried out before an operation can go ahead. This includes blood tests, ECGs, urine tests, pregnancy tests, and swabs. Failing to attend an appointment for these checks may lead to your surgery being cancelled.

Non-medical reasons to cancel surgery

• Lack of available beds – hospitals can sometimes reach their maximum capacity, meaning there are no beds available for those needing to recover from surgery. If this is the case, hospital staff may be unable to correctly care for the patient after their procedure, resulting in it being cancelled.
• Staff shortages – even hospital staff get ill sometimes and in order to minimise the risk of spreading their illness to patients, they may be required to take unexpected sick leave. While this can’t be helped, not having the necessary staff available may lead to a patient’s operation being cancelled.
• Prioritisation of emergencies – any life-threatening emergencies need to be prioritised over planned procedures. This may mean that the operating theatre and its staff are required in order to save the life of a critically ill patient, leading to any scheduled surgeries being cancelled.
• Timing issues – sometimes, planned procedures take longer to complete than originally anticipated due to complications during the operation. If this happens, there may not be enough time left in the working day to commence other surgeries, resulting in a cancellation.

The NHS will prioritise scheduling procedures depending on clinical need. This means conditions deemed more urgent will be scheduled first. If your surgery has been cancelled and you feel as though your condition or symptoms are getting worse, it is important that you contact your medical provider and let them know.

What happens if a surgery is cancelled at the last minute?

Being told that your surgery has been cancelled can be distressing, so it is important to know your rights and what should happen next.

What are my rights if my surgery is cancelled at short notice?

• Rescheduled date – the NHS pledges that all operations cancelled on or after the day of admission – including the day of the planned surgery – , for non-medical reasons, should be rescheduled within 28 days of the original date. However, it is important to note that this guarantee does not cover operations which were due to be conducted at outpatient appointments or clinics.
• Alternative location – if the hospital does not have sufficient time to carry out the planned surgery within the 28 days, you then have the right to ask them to find you an alternative provider and for them to cover the necessary costs.

What should you do if your surgery is cancelled at the last minute?

• Ask for cancellation reason – while you should automatically be told why your procedure is being cancelled, this does not always happen. If the hospital fails to provide you with a reason why, it is important that you ask to be given one, as this will help you if you need to make a formal complaint.
• Request a new date – hospitals can have lengthy waiting lists for surgeries, so it is important to have a new date scheduled as soon as possible. You can also take this opportunity to remind the hospital of the 28 day guarantee mentioned above.
• Get written confirmation of the cancellation – if you are made aware of your surgery cancellation via a phone call, it is a good idea to ask for it to be confirmed in writing. If this is not possible, then make sure to make a written note of the cancellation yourself, including which member of staff you spoke to, as well as the date and time. Again, this evidence will help you if you need to make a formal complaint.
• Make a formal complaint – it is a good idea to know how to complain about a cancelled operation, particularly if it is not rebooked in a timely manner. If the hospital fails to rebook your surgery within 28 days of its original date or find an alternative provider for you, you can complain to your local integrated care board (ICB). Make sure to gather as much information and evidence as possible to support your case.

What can you do between your cancelled and rescheduled surgery?

Having to wait even longer for a planned procedure can be incredibly frustrating. It can even have a detrimental effect on a patient’s health, both mentally and physically. Here are some things you can do between your cancelled and rescheduled surgery:

• Optimise your physical health – improving your physical condition can help you to recover better after your surgery. Try to engage in some exercises appropriate for your condition to maintain your strength; you can contact your healthcare provider to help support you with this. It is also important to eat well and maintain a healthy diet to help aid your recovery.
• Manage any pain – if you are suffering from prolonged pain due to a cancelled operation, it is important that you manage this pain both successfully and appropriately. You can contact your healthcare provider and ask them for some advice on how best to manage your pain while you wait for your new surgery date. This might include over-the-counter medication, hot or cold therapy, physiotherapy or supportive aids.
• Look after your mental health – cancelled surgeries can have just as big of an effect on your mental health as your physical health. Being in pain every day can be incredibly stressful and debilitating for a patient, so it is important to look after your mental wellbeing. There may be some support groups you can join to help you with this, where you can discuss how you are feeling with other people who are in similar positions. Depending on your condition, it may be appropriate for you to engage in relaxing activities, such as yoga, massages or meditation.
• Follow-up on your procedure – perhaps the most important thing to do between your cancelled and rescheduled surgery is to regularly ask for updates. As mentioned previously, you are entitled to receive a new surgery date within 28 days of the original one. If you have any concerns that this may not happen, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Once the 28 day window has passed, you can contact your local ICB to make a formal complaint.

Although having your operation cancelled is very frustrating, it is important to remember that the hospital staff will most likely be working hard to ensure you get the care you need.

Statistics surrounding cancelled elective operations

According to NHS data, over 20,1280 operations were cancelled at the last minute due to non-medical reasons in quarter two of 2025/2026. Cancellations were considered to be last minute if the patient was only told their surgery wouldn’t be going ahead on the scheduled date.

The amount of operations cancelled within the specified timeframe represented 0.9% of all elective operations. Of the 20,189 cancelled surgeries, 4,274 patients (21.2%) were not treated within 28 days of the cancellation.

The data below shows how statistics have changed compared to previous quarters:

Compensation claims for cancelled operations

As discussed previously in this article, if your surgery is cancelled at the last minute, the NHS should offer you a new appointment date within 28 days. However, if this does not happen, then you may be entitled to compensation.

At Patient Claim Line, we work on a no win, no fee basis for patients who have been affected by cancelled and delayed surgeries. For many patients, cancelled operations can result in symptoms getting worse or potentially the development of a more serious condition. If you have experienced a cancelled surgery that has led to this, we are here to help you make a claim.

For advice on making a claim for delayed surgery, contact our trained medical negligence solicitors who will investigate your claim for you. We are committed to bringing the best service that we possibly can and you can find out if you have a claim at no cost to you.