An audit of day case cancellations in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital based day case unit

Abstract

Background: The concept of day case surgery puts into efficient utilisation scarce resources to derive numerous social and economic benefits. Frequent cancellation however erodes these gains and therefore serves as a way of assessing the efficient utilisation of day case resources including the factors responsible for under utilisation. The objective of this study was to assess the extent and reasons for day case cancellations and consequently the degree of its efficient utilization.
Methods: A one year prospective study in a tertiary hospital based day case unit in Nigeria.
Results: Our day case cancellation rate is still high and there is increasing hospital related reasons for cancellations.
Conclusion: Day case practice is predominantly hospital based in this continent. There is therefore the need for infrastructural development and planning of our day cases with adequate attention to hospital administration and welfare, to stem the avoidable wastages arising from frequent cancellations.