HUNDREDS of hospital patients across East Lancashire have had operations cancelled in the past 12 months – with more than 100 procedures rescheduled at the last minute due to ‘missing equipment.’

The East Lancashire Hospitals Trust cancelled 763 operations between April 2018 and April 2019.

And while a percentage of cancellations were down to unavoidable situations such as emergencies taking priority over scheduled procedures, other reasons operations were cancelled included administration errors and staff not being available to attend theatre.

Overrunning theatre lists and unavailable wards were two further reasons for cancellations.

The East Lancashire Hospitals Trust provides healthcare for those living in the area, running the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Teaching Hospital.

A spokesman for the trust said that operations are only cancelled when there is no other alternative available.

Natalie Hudson, Director of Operations at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“The decision to postpone or cancel an operation is only taken when absolutely necessary and when no other option is possible.

“We do sympathise with the frustration felt by patients, but there are times when medical emergencies have to take priority over elective (planned) operations, and occasionally, operations are cancelled for reasons beyond our control.

“Our staff work hard to keep cancellations to a minimum and recent investments including the new Lancashire Elective Centre at Burnley General Hospital is evidence of how seriously we are tackling the situation.”

* Have you ever had an operation cancelled while at hospital? Get in touch, smclarke@newsquest.co.uk