NHS Tayside has issued an apology after “exceptional demand” at Perth Royal Infirmary led to bed blocking.
Perth councillor Alexander Stewart called for action from the health board after being inundated with complaints from patients whose operations had been delayed.
The Conservative politician said the “enormous pressure” staff are under at PRI is having a detrimental effect on the facilities.
He added: “I have been contacted by a number of concerned constituents in recent times expressing their fear, anguish and disappointment that hospital staff are having to cope with unrealistic targets and unrealistic expectations.
“In recent weeks, I have had a number of harrowing stories about certain circumstances affecting patients at the hospital where, due to pressure on beds, operations have required to be postponed, some even for a second and third time.
“When patients make arrangements to ensure they are able to attend for an operation, it is totally unacceptable when this is postponed, sometimes within 24 hours.”
Mr Stewart said he is aware of the fantastic services that are provided at PRI but stressed he is becoming “increasingly concerned” over operation cancellations and bed blocking.
“The Scottish Government have a responsibility to ensure that, wherever possible, postponements are kept to a minimum,” he said.
“I am writing to hospital management to ascertain what steps they are taking to minimise the situation and also contacting NHS Tayside to see what contingencies they have in place, before this situation becomes critical for the hospital and patients alike.”
Bill Nicoll, director of primary and community services with NHS Tayside, apologised to patients who have been affected. “We recognise this will have been distressing for everyone involved,” he said.
“During the winter period, we did experience exceptional demand on our system due to the number of patients being admitted into our hospitals from the community with viral illnesses, including respiratory conditions, with many patients acutely ill.
“Unfortunately, this higher-than- normal number of unscheduled admissions had a knock-on effect on our ability to deliver routine procedures and we had to defer some non-urgent, elective procedures across Tayside.
“However, we are now in the position that there are sufficient beds available and there have been no elective cancellations due to bed pressures since May 3 2015 by the hospital.
“We would like to recognise the exceptional work our staff have undertaken to care for all of their patients.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said no one should wait longer for treatment than is absolutely necessary.
They added: “Perth Royal Infirmary performs very well in Accident & Emergency with an average of 98.6 per cent of patients seen within four hours since the start of this year.
“Since the 12-week Treatment Time Guarantee was introduced by this government in October 2012, more than 67,300 patients in NHS Tayside have benefited from faster treatment times.
“However, we recognise NHS Tayside needs to do more to ensure no-one is waiting unnecessarily and that is why the Scottish Government are actively working with the health board to make improvements and deliver the waiting time guarantee by the end of this year.
“In addition, we are also working with the health board and local councils in the area to ensure people can be discharged home or to a care setting without delay.”