The assembly government said it was still working on the issue

Four years ago an emergency task force set up by the Welsh assembly said an extra 30 intensive care bed were needed.

But so far only 15 have been funded.

Hospital doctors have warned that the shortage means operations are being cancelled.

Increased pressures on the critical care sector in Wales in 2000 led to doctors calling for more beds.

As a result of the concerns raised, the Emergency Pressures Task Force was set up.

It made a number of recommendations, including a substantial increase in the number of medical beds and 30 extra intensive care beds.

Other measures included the introduction of seven-day working so that hospital patients could receive therapy and drug prescriptions at weekends and a comprehensive flu vaccination programme for the elderly and NHS staff.

Since then an extra 15 beds have been funded.

But the Intensive Care Society in Wales, which brings together clinicians whose main interest is caring for critically ill patients, claim its not enough.

In some cases operations are being cancelled because after care beds are not available.

In response the assembly government said it believed only a small number of patients had been affected.