Autumn is a busy time in the garden, when we enjoy what we have sown and begin to think about tidying up before the winter.

With clearing, digging and picking (especially soft fruit with sharp thorns) there is always the risk of the odd small injury, but did you know that a scratch or scrape could potentially lead to your operation being cancelled?

Experts at Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre are warning patients who are due to have an operation to avoid cuts, scratches and bites, as these can increase the risk of infection after an operation.

This is because these cause a break in the skin, which is the natural barrier to harmful bugs getting into our systems.

Skin keeps out the sort of bacteria which can enter the bloodstream and travel to the site of the wound or where there is a new hip, knee or other implant.

According to NHS England, between April and June this year (the latest figures available), 19,969 elective operations were cancelled in England.

Elective operations are non-emergency, planned procedures like the ones performed at Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre.

Avoidable cancellations, including those caused by something as simple as a scratch, contribute to longer waiting times for treatment across the NHS.

This is why it is important to avoid cuts, grazes or even insect bites before your operation. Infected eczema, psoriasis, leg ulcers or other open wounds will also lead to an operation being cancelled on the day.

Here are eight top tips for avoiding something which might lead to the cancellation of your operation:

1. If you know when your operation is to take place, try to avoid doing anything which might result in a cut, scratch or bite for at least two weeks before your treatment.

1. When clearing brambles and overgrown areas, cover up with gloves, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts.

1. Giving the lawn or hedges their final trim can disturb biting insects, so use an insect repellent on your clothes and your skin (make sure you are not allergic to it first) and cover up.

1. If you are weeding or tidying flower beds on your knees on gravel or stony ground, wear protective pads or use a kneeler to protect your knees.

1. When you are working on uneven ground, look where you are going – a trip or fall could result in a cut or scratch.

1. Make sure you have read the manufacturer's operating instructions regarding the use of any protective precautions (eg: gloves, eye visors) for any gardening tools or machinery, and be extra careful if you are using something sharp or which has moving parts.

1. If you are cut, scratched or bitten, clean the area immediately with soap and water, use an antiseptic spray and dress the area with a plaster or bandage.

1. If you are due to have an operation and you have any broken areas on your skin, inform your hospital as soon as possible.

When you go to hospitals such as Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre for your pre-operation assessment, the outpatient nurse will check your skin for any breaks and it is important that you declare any skin conditions which might not otherwise be visible.

If there is a problem with your skin you will be given advice and you may be given medication to deal with it before your operation.

If you damage your skin or you have a flare-up of a skin condition between your pre-operation assessment and your treatment, it is vital that you call the Outpatient Department and ask to speak to a nurse.

The nurse will be able to discuss your concerns and decide if it is necessary or you to attend another assessment.

Glynis Johns-Turner, outpatient department manager at Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre, said: "It's better to be safe than sorry – especially at this time of year when people are out and about and are more likely to be scratched or bitten.

"The last thing any of us want to do is to cancel your surgery on the day of the operation because there is an increased likelihood of infection.

"We're really keen to work closely with patients to ensure their experience is a very positive and successful one."