Cancellations in day-case ENT surgery

Attention should be paid to subgroups at higher risk of operative cancellation (0 to 20-year olds, ethnic minorities, non-day case) especially in the winter months. The reason(s) for cancellation should be clearly recorded in the patient's notes. Medical staff at all levels should be given appropriate training as to the clinical significance of good note-keeping and its enforcement. The coding system for the classification of operative cancellations should be extensive and descriptive so as to include a broad range of categories.