A LEADING Gwent surgeon is "sick and tired" of having to cancel vital operations because of bed shortages.

Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan said this week that reducing waiting lists in Gwent was one of his priorities for 2003.

Ken Shute, (pictured) a surgeon at the Royal Gwent Hospital, New-port, said the waiting list problems were caused by bed shortages.

"Week after week I have to cancel the operations of people who are suffering and have made careful arrangements. "I am sick and tired of it," he said. Other operations - some urgent - are also regularly cancelled.

On a visit to Newport Mr Morgan said: "The situation is not acceptable." The Gwent's bed crisis worsened last year when the hospital took emergency and urgent cases from Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr, when some surgery there was cancelled. Emergency medical ad-missions also rose.

A bug at the Royal Gwent forced more cancellations. Several wards were closed to new patients. And the numbers of bedblockers - patients who are fit for discharge but without home care - reached crisis point.

A Gwent NHS Trust spokesman told the Argus today: "We have consistently highlighted the need for a long-term investment strategy in orthopaedics in Gwent and we are working with the National Assembly to achieve progress in this difficult area."