evidence: Hospital appointments: Last minute cancellation widens health inequalities, watchdog warns [...] Repeated or last minute cancellations of planned NHS appointments are having a catastrophic effect on patients’ health and are widening health inequalities, Healthwatch England has warned.1 The watchdog said that last minute cancellations can lead to patients getting sicker and can have severe effects on their mental health. Some groups seem to be disproportionately affected by cancellations, including people who are disabled, neurodiverse, on lower incomes, or from ethnic minority groups.