ONE of Gwent's most senior orthopaedic surgeons today delivered a stinging attack on the NHS for its "cruel and inhumane" treatment of patients.

Mr Witez Mintowt-Czyz, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, has written to Welsh AMs to ask what they are going to do to tackle the problems in the health service.

The despairing senior surgeon said he was constantly forced to cancel operations because beds were full of medical emergency patients. Today he said lots of patients would go to their graves with painful conditions which were perfectly fixable. "I don't think it's a civilised way to behave." He fears orthopaedic patients throughout Wales are not getting the care they deserve.

One woman from Pontypool revealed that her orthopaedic operation has been cancelled twice - once while she was on her way to the operating theatre - before it was successfully carried out. She praised the care she was given at the Royal Gwent Hospital but was unhappy with the NHS.

Last month Assembly health minister Jane Hutt said an extra £12 million would be spent on orthopaedic surgery.

Mr Mintowt-Czyz said facilities did not exist at the hospital to take on any more surgeons to tackle the waiting lists.

His comments come on the day the latest waiting list figures are due to be published.