Cancellation of elective oral and maxillofacial operations

Our aim was to assess whether the Commission for Health Improvement Performance Indicator value of 0.5% of cancellations on the day of operation or less had been achieved. We reviewed 912 consecutive elective operations, both day case and inpatient over an 8-month period (January-August 2003). A total of 117 procedures (13%) were cancelled for non-clinical or logistical reasons, of which 39 (4%) were cancelled on the day of the operation. Only 3 of the 39 patients who wanted a new admission date within 28 days of cancellation could not be accommodated. The performance indicator value of 0.3% was below the target threshold. An additional 60 (7%) patients had their admissions cancelled the day before operation and 18 (2%) had their operations deferred for a day before they were cancelled. However, these patients have been specifically excluded from the performance indicator.