Targets say that cardiac patients should have an operation within nine months

Mr Kerr is expected to raise the issue of waiting times and postponed operations with senior management at NHS Grampian's annual review meeting.

The move comes after the board contacted cardiac patients who were nearing the cut-off waiting limit.

They were presented with options of postponing their operation or having surgery outside the Grampian area.

A Scottish Executive spokesman confirmed Mr Kerr was to hold talks with NHS Grampian bosses.

She said: "The health minister will take up the issue of waiting at NHS Grampian's annual review next week.

We have taken a proactive stance and offered several choices to a small number of people who have been approaching the cut-off times NHS Grampian statement

"It was always intended that waiting times would be a central feature of this review.

"When we announced the nine-month guarantee in 2003, we made it clear that if a board was not able to offer treatment locally, it must offer alternatives in Scotland, the UK, or, in exceptional cases, Europe."

A statement from NHS Grampian stated that there were currently no cardiac patients waiting longer than the specified nine-month waiting time for operations.

A spokeswoman added that on some occasions in the past patients approaching the cut-off waiting time had decided not to travel to other areas for treatment and, in a small number of cases, had chosen to wait longer to have surgery in Grampian.

Future unknown

She said: "We have taken a proactive stance and offered several choices to a small number of people who have been approaching the cut-off times.

"We are currently within the waiting times.

"But while we are implementing a number of initiatives to improve the situation, you never know what it will be like in the future."