A patient is removed from an elective surgery waiting list when a service request for a surgical procedure has been received and the patient has been wait-listed, and is subsequently removed from the waiting list with or without the procedure being performed. Reasons for removal may include:
- The procedure has been performed.
- The patient requested to be removed from the waiting list.
- The facility removes the patient from the waiting list according to local policy, which may include:
where the patient declines an offer of procedure; the patient fails to respond to audit measures
despite reasonable efforts to contact the patient; or the patient exceeds a not ready for surgery time
threshold for personal reasons.
- A designated clinician removes the patient from the waiting list for clinical reasons, such as the patient being
deemed not fit for the procedure due to co-morbidities requiring management for stabilisation or investigation.
- The patient dies.
- The facility ceases the elective surgery service and transfers the patients on the waiting list to another facility
or an alternative care pathway.
When a patient is removed from an elective surgery waiting list and requires reinstatement, the same service request should be reinstated where possible, in order to continue the patient's waiting time from that previously accrued, with a not ready for surgery period applied where appropriate.
The scope of the ESDC is separated into Part A (Waiting List Removal) and Part B (Waiting List Census). This DSR details Part A of the ESDC.