NEWS figures have revealed that out of a total of 1,405 cancelled operations, 538 were cancelled in 2018 in Fife because hospitals could not cope.

In Fife 38.3 per cent of the operations cancelled last year were because of a lack of hospital capacity or for non-clinical reasons like a lack of staff or clean equipment.

The figures also show a 24.0 per cent increase on 2017, and come as the Government missed its target to publish an NHS workforce plan by the end of January.

Labour said this week the figures showed the ‘exceptional strain’ on the health service.

Claire Baker MSP said: “The build up to a surgery appointment can be stressful enough but to then have that operation cancelled can be distressing and disruptive for people. We now know that last year 538 operations were cancelled in Fife.

"These figures are unacceptable and show the exceptional strain our health service is facing, with too many surgeries cancelled due to a lack of space or staff".

She added: "The SNP have been in charge of our NHS for over a decade but have failed to ensure it has the right mix of staff to deliver the care patients need. "We were promised a workforce plan to try and solve this mess but that has now been delayed while the SNP preside over these disappointing figures. This should be a priority for the Government, and Scottish Labour would focus on what our NHS needs and deliver real improvements for patients and staff.”