"What does 'paused her pathway' mean?"

My mother is waiting for a knee replacement.

She was phoned by someone from the East Surrey Hospital booking office and asked if she wanted to have her operation performed by a different consultant. She declined as her specialist had successfully operated on her three times previously and she respected him and his team.

She was then told that "she had paused her pathway" and this would delay her surgery. When she (rightly) said she didn't understand what was happening, no clarification or information was given.

She has been given a date months ahead and because of the delay she will now miss my wedding.