"Experience with cancelled / rescheduled hospital appointments."

I fully realise and appreciate that it is sometimes unavoidably necessary to cancel a hospital appointment and reschedule.

However, I feel that it would be both helpful and courteous if the reason for the cancellation was given at the time.  This is especially the case where one has had to wait for e.g. five weeks for the original appointment, only for it to be cancelled three days before, and for it to be rescheduled for a further five weeks later.  

To make matters worse, until this appointment is completed, a (unconnected) surgical operation originally referred 10 months previously has been put on hold.

I am a full-time Carer for my wife and must make bookings well in advance for respite care for both of us, as well as holiday arrangements.  It is very inconvenient to have to change these at short notice if an important hospital appointment for me is changed.