Orthopaedic operations at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport have been cancelled because of bed shortages.

Hospital managers were forced to use a ward, usually used for medical surgery, for patients admitted to accident and emergency.

The problem of bed blocking in Gwent hospitals has already been described as being at crisis point

William Graham, Assembly Member

Sterilisation of that ward now has to be completed before any orthopaedic operations can be carried out - all scheduled surgery for two weeks has been cancelled as a result.

Bed blocking has been blamed for the delays.

It follows a warning by the Chairman of Gwent NHS Trust, Dennis Jessop, two weeks ago, that hospital bed blocking in the county was reaching crisis point.

William Graham, Welsh Assembly Member for south east Wales, is alarmed at the surgery delays.

Hip joint replacement operations are affected

"It appears that a ward used for medical operations was needed to allow 49 accident and emergency cases to be accommodated for their treatment," he said.

"The problem of bed blocking in Gwent hospitals has already been described as being at crisis point," he said.

Mr Graham has written to the Welsh Assembly Government's Minister for Health, Jane Hutt, about tackling waiting list targets.

The number of people waiting more than 18 months for surgery trebled during August.

Eileen Edwards, 75, from Pontllanfraith, near Blackwood, was due to have surgery for a replacement hip on Wednesday but was told her operation would be delayed.

"I had my left hip done in May and was told that I would only have to wait six to eight weeks to have my right one done.

My life is on hold until I get the surgery done

Eileen Edwards, Patient

"But that was five months ago and I am in terrible pain.

"I am full of admiration for the doctors and nurses at the Royal Gwent Hospital and had wonderful care while I was there.

"But the problem for orthopaedic patients is that it is elective surgery and is not life-threatening.

"Medical cases obviously take precedence over the orthopaedic cases when there are bed shortages.

"My life is on hold until I get the surgery done. It has been cancelled twice and it is so painful," she added.

Reaction

A spokesman for Gwent NHS Trust said that the situation was being monitored daily.

"Orthopaedic waiting list surgery has been postponed due to the continuing pressure on beds for medical emergency patients at the Royal Gwent Hospital," he said.

"Patients requiring urgent medical treatment have been prioritised and often beds that are allocated for patients requiring surgery are used for medical patients.

"Patients requiring urgent orthopaedic surgery as a result of trauma or accidents are on a dedicated ward and these operations are still going ahead," he added.