Let's be clear here....scheduling a patient for operation is a complicated procedure.
1) There must be a bed available the day before operation and you don't know that until the day before operation. If there was, but there isn't now........your operation is cancelled.
2) There must be time on the operating list for the operation to be performed...a six hour operation would see of 2 consecutive lists. If an emergency came in.....your operation will be cancelled.
3)The Consultant MUST be available, if he is ill, on holiday, at a meeting.......then your operation will be cancelled.
4) The same for the Consultant Anaesthetist.
5) If there was an intensive care bed but is now taken....your operation is cancelled.
So you see, there could be many reasons for cancelling your operation.
Finally...once a decision is made to cancel an operation, it is the function of the administrative staff to contact the patient......I would not allow any of my lads to do it......they are far too valuable elsewhere.