FIGURES have revealed that a record number of operations in Hampshire were cancelled at the last minute for patients last year. 

Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) cancelled its highest number of operations in the three months to December last year since October to December 2021. 

NHS England figures show 147 elective operations were cancelled during this period, up from 74 within the previous quarter of 2022.

This meant that 33 patients were forced to wait more than 28 days to be treated following their operation being cancelled. 

In total, 410 operations were cancelled on the day the patient arrived at hospital, after they arrived, or on the day of the operation itself in 2022.

NHS England suspended collecting data on cancelled operations from April 2020 through September 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but since restarting, the number of cancelled operations across England has risen by 10 per cent in the last year.

Earlier this month, NHS England announced 37 new surgical hubs, 10 expanded existing hubs and 81 new theatres dedicated to elective care.

The Department for Health and Social care said bringing down waiting lists and providing the highest quality care is a "top priority", and that the rise in cancellations was driven by the increase in booked operations.

A spokesperson for HHFT said: “The last three months of any year are incredibly busy as we see the start of winter pressures. The decision to postpone elective operations is never taken lightly and our teams worked hard to care for as many patients as possible, against the backdrop of a system wide critical incident and increasing (urgent and emergency) operational pressures.

"In line with the national ask we are continuing to work up robust plans at specialty level to treat as many elective patients as possible, whilst recognising the ongoing non-elective pressures.”