A MAN who shattered an elbow joint in an accident at work ten weeks ago is STILL waiting in agony for vital surgery.

Gary Jones, pictured, thought the pain-filled days since he sustained the injury would end yesterday with an operation to fit a titanium joint into his right elbow.

Instead, he was told that the operation would have to be delayed because of a lack of beds, leaving him with no idea of when he can start down the road to recovery.

Now has slammed the NHS over the delays, describing it as a disgrace.

Mr Jones, aged 45, of Church Street, Rogerstone, should have undergone surgery on October 1, the day after his elbow joint was shattered in a workplace fall.

But wards and theatres were closed because of a bug that was affecting patients at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, so he was patched up and sent home.

He was readmitted several days later because the pain in his elbow was worsening, but surgery was postponed again and he picked up a bug which he has only been pronounced clear of for a week.

"I'd got over it at last and I was all geared up to have my operation, but it was called off again," said Mr Jones.

"I'm gutted. The joint is in a real mess, I'm in pain most of the time, though I'm on painkillers, and the longer it goes on the more worried I get.

"I should have had this operation the day after my accident, but it's just dragged on and on. I can't do anything at the moment and it's very frustrating.

"It's the system that stinks, because no-one should be put in a situation like this. I'm not having a go at the doctors and nurses because it's not their fault. They must feel as gutted as I do, having to pick up the phone every day and tell people their operations have had to be cancelled."

Now Mr Jones hopes his surgery may be rescheduled for next week - but says if nothing happens he will take his fight to the Assembly and Westminster.

No one from the NHS Trust was available to comment.