A WOMAN from Rhyl who was booked in for an operation after a two-year wait, had her treatment cancelled last minute due to the lack of beds.
Kathy Meredith, aged 57, of Oakwood Road, who said she lives her life on pain killers as she awaits her hip operation, said the ordeal has left her depressed.
Mrs Meredith (pictured) said she burst into tears when she was sent home after waiting six hours at Glan Clwyd Hospital on September 12.
A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board said two elective orthopaedic procedures were cancelled due to bed pressures because of a high number of patients who needed urgent operations.
Mrs Meredith, said: “This is the third time this operation has been cancelled but usually it is cancelled weeks in advance.
“I got to the hospital at 6.45am expecting to go to theatre for 10.30am - but I got sent home.
“I was told by staff at the hospital it was because the sterilising units used for the equipment were down and there were no beds.”
A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr, said: “We are unable to discuss individual cases but we can confirm that no orthopaedic procedures have been cancelled as a result of failure of our sterilising units.
“The Health Board has been dealing with a problem with the sterilising systems in use at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and contingency plans have been put in place to manage the situation.
“This has not affected patient safety, treatment or access to care.”
Mrs Meredith, who cares for her 83-year-old father, Jim Cooke, has had two operations on the same hip in the last six years.
She said the situation has made her unemployable.
“No one will employ me because I am in pain all the time,” she said.
“I have rang the hospital to try and reschedule the operation for October but they have told me they are fully booked for that month - I could even be waiting until after christmas now.”
Betsi Cadwaladr has apologised for this situation and said it will be contacting the patients in order to reschedule their appointments as soon as possible.