Number of cancelled operations set to rise to 40,800

Approximately 3,400 procedures are being cancelled in public hospitals every month, according to the latest figures.

In total, 37,491 procedures were cancelled last year, representing an increase of almost 13,000 compared to 2015.

However, the figure is set to rise again this year after the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) revealed that 3,400 procedures are currently being cancelled on average each month.