A senior consultant at a Welsh hospital at the centre of rows over waiting lists and cancelled operations has warned that the situation could get far worse.

Several patients have told BBC Wales how they have had operations postponed by the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, south Wales.

Within five years this situation will be catastrophic Consultant Ken Shute

The hospital has the longest waiting list in the UK, but insiders say a history of underfunding could lead to catastrophe.

Earlier this week, David Thompson, from New Inn, Pontypool, revealed how surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour had been cancelled four times.

He eventually had his operation on Wednesday, after his case was spotlighted in the media.

News of his story prompted a series of similar calls from other patients facing delays at the hospital.

'Chronic underfunding'

Just a few weeks ago, the trust which runs the hospital revealed it has the longest waiting lists in the UK.

On Thursday it was revealed that the number of patients waiting the longest for hospital treatment in hospitals in Wales had risen again.

Ken Shute, who has been a consultant at the Royal Gwent for 20 years, blames chronic underfunding even compared to other parts of Wales, a continued lack of beds and higher levels of emergency admissions.

But he warned that the situation was not likely to improve.

Health Minister Jane Hutt has admitted the Royal Gwent is a problem area, and has already sent in a troubleshooter, Professor Brian Edwards, to whittle down orthopaedic waiting lists.

Ken Shute ; warning

But Mr Shute insists action must be taken now, before worse problems develop.

"The Townsend report on the provision of health services in Wales pointed out quite clearly that Gwent is one of the grossly underfunded areas," he said.

"We've got a higher percentage of medical emergencies coming in through the doors compared to anywhere else in Wales.

"There is no doubt in anybody's mind that elective and emergency services have to supported.

"Otherwise the emergency services will always over-run the elective beds.

No blame

"If we don't urgently have extra beds, within five years this situation will be catastrophic."

Peter Johns, chief officer with Gwent Community Health Council - and the official watchdog of NHS trusts like the Royal Gwent - said it was difficult to blame anyone for the problems.

"I don't think that the senior management can be pinpointed as having made a major blunder in any way," he said.

"I think their biggest fault is perhaps that they have not complained enough early enough at the pitch at which they are being asked to work.

"It is suggested that a reasonable level at which hospitals should work is something like 85% bed occupancy.

"Consistently, the major hospitals in Gwent are operating well over that."

Figures released on Thursday revealed that the number of people facing long waits for hospital treatment in hospitals in Wales had risen since last month.

Patients waiting a year for treatment rose by 4% to just almost 10,000, while those waiting 18 months also rose by just under 3% to 3,085.

There was a slight drop in those waiting for a first outpatient appointment, and there were no patients waiting more than a year for heart surgery.

The number of patients waiting more than 18 months for orthopaedic surgery also fell by more than 13%.

Health Minister Jane Hutt said Thursday's figures showed that progress was being made in key areas, but there was much work to be done.

The Welsh Assembly Government confirmed that a review into the waiting lists problems at Gwent was being carried out.

A report will be presented to the assembly in the new year.