PATIENTS are facing “catastrophic health impacts” due to vital appointments being postponed and cancelled, a watchdog warned today.

Healthwatch England said that last-minute and repeated cancellations were leading to people’s symptoms getting worse and causing their mental health to deteriorate.

Nearly one in five people said their appointment had been cancelled either on the day or as they arrived for their appointment, a poll conducted on its behalf found.

More than a third who had an appointment called off this year experienced cancellations or postponements two or more times, with two-thirds reporting worsening physical and mental health symptoms as a result.

Healthwatch warned some groups appeared to be disproportionately affected by the impact of cancellations including unpaid carers, neurodivergent people, those on lower incomes and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Chief executive Louise Ansari said: “The findings of our research show that many people are currently facing worsening and, in some cases, catastrophic health impacts due to ongoing delays to care.

“We urgently need to reduce the number of cancellations of appointments, especially last-minute cancellations, and greater action is needed to address widening health inequalities.

“We are also renewing our call for all parties to reach a resolution to mitigate the impact of strikes on patients.”

Carers UK chief executive Helen Walker said: “With much of unpaid carers’ time and energy focused on supporting their loved ones who are older, disabled or seriously ill, carers themselves often have little time to address their own health issues.”

An NHS spokesperson said “hardworking staff” were doing all they “possibly can” to manage the “significant impact” of the past eight months of industrial action “with at least 765,000 appointments being rescheduled since they began last year.”