A few patients decide to delay the surgery, or avoid it altogether, if it's an elective procedure.

On the contrary a splenorenal shunt would be an elective procedure due to its great technical demands.

Choice and competition for elective procedures such as hip replacements should be a spur to provide the best care.

They are talking about, and trying to sell, elective procedures, not emergency ones.

Additionally, emergency general surgery patients are often denied critical care beds after operation, even though these are required for less risky elective procedures.