“We do know that rescheduling elective procedures can be very upsetting for our patients and their families. We apologise sincerely to those who have been affected, especially those who have been rescheduled a number of times.

“We have been open and honest about the significant pressures being experienced across our entire healthcare system and their negative impact on elective procedures and waiting times.”

Emphasis added by me. This is the health care provider trying to weasel out by claiming the medically necessary surgery wasn’t medically necessary in a way that will withstand legal scrutiny because they’re only implying their statement is relevant to its own context.