INCREASING numbers of operations are being cancelled at the last minute in the area.

There has been a surge in the cancellation of operations by the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Wexham Park Hospital. The trust cancelled 260 non-urgent operations at the last minute, such as hip or knee surgeries, in the last three months to June, the latest period covered by NHS England data. 'Last minute' is defined as cancellations that happen on the day of the operation, before or after the patient arrives to receive it.

This was an increase of 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2017. The true extent of cancelled operations is likely higher, as the data does not cover operations cancelled with more than 24 hours notice.

Under the NHS constitution, hospitals must offer the patients with cancelled non-urgent operations a new date within 28 days of the cancelled appointment. However, 15 per cent of patients at the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust were not treated within this 28 day timeframe between April and June, and increase on the previous year, when only 6 per cent of patients were not treated within the 28 days.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) blamed the 'enormous pressure' on the NHS for the increasing number of cancellations.

Professor Cliff Shearman, vice president of the RCS, said: "This will undoubtedly be down to the enormous pressures the NHS is facing. These include not enough free beds in hospitals, difficulties tackling the backlog of operations that built-up over the winter, and now coping with a very busy summer thanks to record temperatures."

"Having an operation that has been planned for months cancelled at short notice can be very stressful for patients and their families.

"Alongside practical considerations such as wasted time off work and rescheduling the surgery, patients will have to deal with the mental anguish of preparing for surgery all over again."

A spokesman for NHS England said: "Only a small minority of operations are cancelled on the day, while 15,000 fewer people now wait a year for their operation compared with 2010.

"New guidance issued to trusts recently will see local health service leaders allocate extra funding to community services, like district nursing teams and outreach clinics, to help them care for more patients, freeing up hospital beds and staff to reduce surgery waiting lists."