The Dundee-based surgeon had written to his patient Letter revealed Brian Taylor's blog Read the full letter

NHS Tayside has now assured them they will receive the highly-specialised liposuction procedure.

Plastic surgeon Alex Munnoch had told one patient she was being removed from the list as bosses were struggling to meet government waiting time targets.

He later withdrew the comments in a statement issued by NHS Tayside.

The row blew up after Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen produced a letter from Mr Munnoch to his patient, in which he said health board bosses told him to remove names as a "simple solution" to people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.

Regardless of the reason, removing patients from waiting lists is unacceptable Nicola Sturgeon Health Secretary

The consultant also explained to the patient - who lives in the NHS Lothian area - that there was no cash to fund the treatment for her condition, lymphodema.

Just hours after Mr Stephen read out extracts of the letter during question time at Holyrood, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the patient's removal from the waiting list was unacceptable and would be reversed.

Meanwhile Mr Munnoch - the only surgeon in the UK who can perform the required procedure - later said he had been placed under no pressure by Tayside health chiefs to alter waiting lists inappropriately.

Ms Sturgeon insisted the removal was not about waiting time targets and, clarifying the lack of funding arrangements between the two health boards, made it clear NHS Lothian would be paying for the treatment.

Nicol Stephen raised the issue at Holyrood

She added: "Regardless of the reason, removing patients from waiting lists is unacceptable."

Senior NHS Tayside official Gerry Marr said the patients Mr Munnoch agreed to see would be treated in Tayside, but added that the health authority could not take on any more referrals.

However, talks on national funding for the service are to take place.

"Irrespective of the circumstances of this situation, I recognise the distress that may have been caused to the small number of patients involved and I apologise for this," Mr Marr said.

Mr Munnoch, based at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, added: "I would like to make it clear that I have been under no pressure from managers in Tayside to alter waiting lists inappropriately."