THE MAN at the centre of the storm regarding operation cancellations at the Royal Gwent Hospital says he has no regrets about going public.

Yesterday's Argus reported exclusively how David Thompson (pictured), of Heol Madoc, New Inn, has had urgent surgery to remove a potentially life-threatening tumour postponed four times.

Since the story broke Mr Thompson told the Argus his phone "hasn't stopped ringing". Mr Thompson, a 58-year-old driver for a builder's merchants, first became ill while on holiday in Majorca. Tests found that he had a tumour on his pancreas.

But an operation to remove it on December 5 was cancelled at the last minute, as were three more other dates - on Decem-ber 9, 11, and 12. A spokesman at the Newport hospital said the cancellations were down to the "increasing demands of emergency pressures on resources".

Mr Thompson faces an anxious Christmas not knowing whether or not the tumour is malignant as January is the earliest he can been operated on. He said: "I really wasn't expecting the kind of reaction that my story has got but I have no regrets as it is the kind of story that needs to be reported. It has obviously struck a chord with a lot of people because I have had many calls of sympathy.

"One woman, who wouldn't give me her name, said she had been waiting for a similar operation for ten weeks at the Royal Gwent Hospital."

He added: "I don't want to be seen as a Royal Gwent Hospital 'basher' because I think the staff are doing a fantastic job under pressure and they work really hard. I just think the hospital needs more money to solve the problems."

Mr Thompson said he would try to enjoy Christmas but added the tumour would continue to be a worry.