Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt has been urged to explain the cancellation of 750 operations at two hospitals.

The official numbers for Swansea's Morriston and Singleton Hospitals refer to a six-month period between October 2001 and the beginning of April 2002.

The cancellation of 750 operations over quite a short period of time is an alarming statistic

Tory, Nick Bourne

The Welsh Conservative's assembly leader, Nick Bourne, has also called for a response to claims the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston is the worst-performing unit in the Western world.

He said he wanted an "honest debate" on the issue in the assembly chamber at Cardiff Bay.

In March, the burns centre's clinical director admitted there was a waiting list of up to nine years for treatment at Wales' only such facility.

By comparison, the average waiting time for plastic surgery in England was 18 months.

'Gloss and spin'

"The cancellation of 750 operations over quite a short period of time is an alarming statistic and an issue that needs addressing," Mr Bourne said.

"Jane Hutt continues to fail the healthy being of Wales and it is about time that the gloss and spin stopped and the real issues discussed."

The report examined services at Singleton Hospital

In response to the figures - outlined in a report by the Swansea NHS Trust - the assembly said a detailed study of the causes of cancellations was being undertaken.

A spokesperson said: "This work should assist in improved management of elective and emergency care to help limit the number of cancelled operations in the future."

And an independent review of problems facing Morriston's burns unit is being carried out by the Specialist Health Services Commission, as ordered by ordered by Ms Hutt.

As part of the review, a team of clinical experts is to examine services provided by Swansea NHS Trust, including burns and plastics.

The trust has also said it is working with the assembly to identify investment required for the unit, which it hopes will have an impact on waiting times.

Emergency admissions

Corporate development director at the trust Andrew Bellamy said: "The Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit at Morriston Hospital receives over half of its patients as emergency admissions.

"These can obviously fluctuate, as with the Corus incident, and can make the planning of elective work extremely difficult.

"It is a victim of its own success and needs further investment to maintain its world class reputation."

Earlier this May, research conducted by the Audit Commission in Wales and England revealed and average 10% of theatre sessions do not get filled.

The report found hundreds of thousands of operations were cancelled every year.

The guidelines issued by the commission called for NHS trusts across the UK to improve information, managed their time more efficiently and work with staff more closely.