NHS FIFE cancelled 273 planned operations between May and August this year, figures from Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland have revealed.

Of that number, 199 did not go ahead due to a clinical reason provided by the hospital, while 74 were cancelled due to “capacity or non-clinical reasons”.

Clinical reasons could include the patient being unwell, for instance, having high blood pressure or a cold, or not prepared for the procedure correctly by the hospital or failing to follow pre-op instructions.

Capacity or non-clinical reasons include a shortage of staff, beds or equipment, and a previous theatre session overrunning.

The health board called off 61 ops in May, 53 in June, 80 in July and 79 in August.

Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser hit out at the stats, highlighting that there had been 822 elective ops in total cancelled across his constituency.

He said: “This year my office has received several complaints from constituents about cancelled elective operations within the health board and the number of cancelled operations in May, June, July and August appears to already equal the figures for 2013.

“Ministers within the Scottish Government must not turn a blind eye to this as a pattern is emerging and resources must be made available to ensure the health board can tackle this issue. It is no longer good enough for the SNP to claim everything is fine.

“Across the Mid-Scotland and Fife region there have been nearly 1000 cancelled operations, that’s hundreds of frustrated patients having to wait longer than necessary for much needed procedures.

“Ministers need to sit down with staff at NHS Fife, Forth Valley and Tayside to see what additional funds are available to get these cancellations figures down.”

NHS Fife chief operating officer for acute services, Scott McLean, said: “NHS Fife strives to deliver the best care to all our patients in a timely manner.

“We note the ISD figures which show that 199 of the 273 operations cancelled between May-August were in fact cancelled for clinical reasons which, includes when a patient is unwell or has not prepared correctly for their procedure. Only 74 were cancelled due to capacity or non-clinical reasons.

“We endeavour to reschedule all cancelled operations as quickly as possible where appropriate.”