Poorly designed hospital services, particularly access to emergency operating theatres and radiology treatment all result in patients missing out on early diagnosis and rapid life-saving care. In addition, there is a general lack of appreciation of the level of risk in emergency surgical patients - where death rates of 15 to 20 per cent are typical, and can be as high as 40 per cent in the most elderly patients. Surgeons say this imminent risk of death is not being reflected in the priority given to these patients whose chances of survival can more than double, depending on which NHS hospital they are treated in.

The report, The Higher Risk General Surgical Patient: Towards Improved Care for a Forgotten Group makes nine detailed recommendations. If implemented within two years, they will reduce complications and deaths, as well as reduce the cost of treating a group of patients who account for almost 90 per cent of post-operative general surgical deaths.