More operations were rescheduled by NHS Tayside during the first six weeks of 2015 than in the previous 12 months, it has emerged.
During 2014, 63 procedures were delayed due to a lack of available beds for patients at hospitals.
That number has already been exceeded this year, with 93 operations rescheduled between January 1 and February 18.
NHS Tayside said the “non-urgent” procedures had been affected by the spread of winter viruses and has apologised to patients and their families.
It said the decisions had been taken as a last resort, but Margaret Watt, who chairs the Scotland Patients Association, said the situation must be “seriously looked at”.
“People who need these operations need them now not in another six months when beds are free,” she said.
She continued: “Patients will get up all geared up to get their surgery only for it to be cancelled, leaving them and their families extremely stressed.”
Over the six-week period, nearly 6,000 theatre visits were handled by NHS Tayside.
