HEALTH chiefs have apologised after a string of operations were cancelled at Bronglais Hospital because of a lack of staff.

Disappointed patients learnt their operations were being cancelled just days before they were due in to the hospital.

Joe Teape, Hywel Dda’s director of operations, issued an apology and said additional staff would work in operating theatres to enable operations to go ahead.

He said: “Over the past week we have experienced some unexpected staffing absences in our theatre suites which has resulted in the cancellation of some operations.

“We have now booked additional staff to ensure theatres can operate to the planned capacity.

“We are extremely sorry for any distress caused to any patients who have had their procedures postponed, this is not the standard of healthcare that we wish to provide to our patients.”

In past years, the health board has cancelled dozens of operations blaming “winter pressures” for a surge in demand that forced scheduled ope­rations to be scrapped.