Hawkes Bay Hospital responds over cancer op cancellation

The Hawkes Bay Hospital has responded to a man's complaint that his cancer operation was cancelled with a few hours' notice.

Bunty Williams, 74, said he faced a month's wait before surgeons had a second chance. By then he fears the cancer may have penetrated the bladder wall and spread, making it inoperable.

The chief executive of the Hawkes Bay District Health Board, Chris Clarke, said he was sorry Mr Williams' cancer surgery was cancelled a day before the operation was due to take place.

"Staff do everything they can to ensure cancer cases take priority, but unfortunately, in this instance, the patient would have had to be admitted to intensive care after surgery and there were simply no beds available at that time."