Table 1.

The Royal College Surgeons of England stratification of patients for surgery [32].

Priority Level	Operation Timetable
Priority level 1a Emergency	Operation needed within 24 h
Priority level 1b Urgent	Operation needed with 72 h
Priority level 2	Surgery that can be deferred for up to 4 weeks
Priority level 3	Surgery that can be delayed for up to 3 months
Priority level 4	Surgery that can be delayed for more than 3 months