Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Angela Burns has recently received a response to her freedom of information request to Hywel Dda Trust regarding the number of medical operations cancelled in the last four years at Withybush hospital.

The FOI was prompted by a number of constituents speaking to Mrs. Burns of operations cancelled again and again and often at very short notice.

The response received shows a disturbing trend of patients being cancelled, sometimes for very serious operations and in some cases up to six times.

In 2009/2010, which was the last full year of data provided, 237 people had their operations cancelled more than once.

Commenting on the response, Mrs. Burns said "This situation is intolerable, I have a constituent who was cancelled five times for a gall bladder operation.

"None of us likes going under the knife; preparing for an operation is always stressful and the grief a cancelled operation causes an individual and their family is immense.

"Additionally, we should think about the cost to the public purse when this happens at short notice when the patient is already in hospital and getting prepped.

"I have written to the chief executive of the Trust asking for reasons for the continuing trend."