Intended surgical procedure

Between 2015–16 and 2016–17, the data element Indicator procedure was replaced by Intended procedure in the ESWT NMDS. The Intended procedure (intended surgical procedure) data element contains 152 categories of surgical procedures, and includes the 15 procedures that were previously reported the Indicator procedure data element.

For the purpose of presenting time series information, this report presents the 15 indicator procedures. For 2017–18, the 15 indicator procedures and the ten most common other intended procedures are presented. See Appendix A for more information.

For caveat information on these data see table 3.3, 3.4 and S3.2. Available to download from the data section of this report.

Changes over time

Admissions from elective surgery waiting lists increased for most of the 15 indicator procedures between 2013–14 and 2017–18. The indicator procedures with the greatest average increase were Cystoscopy, 6.8% on average, per year, and Total knee replacement, 4.3% on average per year. Admissions decreased for Cholecystectomy (1.5%, on average), Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (6.4%) and Varicose veins treatment (1.0%).

Between 2016–17 and 2017–18, there were relatively large increases in admissions for Cystoscopy (10.7%) and Septoplasty (10.2%) and a relatively large decrease in admissions for Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (11.0%).

Admissions by intended surgical procedure 2017–18

In 2017–18, 35% of admissions were for one of the 15 indicator procedures. Cataract extraction was the most commonly reported intended surgical procedure with about 72,000 patients admitted, followed by Cystoscopy (62,000).

Further information on intended surgical procedure is available in Appendix A and internet tables available for download in the Data section.

Where to go for more information

Information on waiting times by intended surgical procedure is available in:

Waiting times: Intended surgical procedure

Information on the complete list of intended surgical procedures for 2017–18 is available online.

Information on data limitations and methods is available in Appendix A and Appendix B.