The hospital was bought by the Scottish Executive

Malcolm Chisholm stepped into controversy over the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank which has been facing a shortage of referrals from other hospitals.

Ken Davidson, a senior surgeon at the hospital, said that a further 40 operations could have been carried out in August and September.

The Scottish Executive bought the former private HCI Hospital for �37.5m in June 2002 to increase the number of operations and reduce waiting times.

It is not acceptable to have spare cardiac surgery capacity at the Golden Jubilee Malcolm Chisholm Health minister

Latest figures show that 513 patients are awaiting heart surgery.

The hospital has no patients of its own and relies on health trusts around the country to refer their patients.

However, because the trusts are meeting minimum waiting time targets, more patients are not being referred.

Mr Davidson told The Herald newspaper that between 50 and 60 cardiac operations could be carried out at the hospital every month.

However, he said that in August and September it handled two-thirds of its workload.

'Temporary problem'

The paper also reported that the three health authorities which look after heart bypass patients had either stopped referring patients or reduced the number of deals with the former private hospital.

Mr Davidson said: "They are being charged something for sending patients here and if, like North Glasgow, you are meeting your (cardiac) targets and your budget problems are well recognised there is almost a disincentive to send patients here."

Mr Chisholm said: "It is not acceptable to have spare cardiac surgery capacity at the Golden Jubilee.

"The targets for boards and trusts are minimum targets, not ceilings beyond which they cannot go and I expect them to fully utilise spare capacity, particularly at the Golden Jubilee where the additional costs to trusts are marginal.