A GWENT man needing urgent surgery to remove a potentially life-threatening tumour has had his operation cancelled four times.

Now David Thompson will not have surgery until next year - even though the tumour may be malignant and leave him needing chemotherapy.

On three occasions Mr Thompson underwent pre-operation 'nil-by-mouth' procedures at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport - only to be told the operation was off. His last appointment was cancelled before he got to hospital.

Health chiefs blame bed shortages for the cancellations. The surgery cannot be carried out unless an intensive care bed is available, in case of problems.

But now Mr Thompson, 58, faces an anxious wait over Christmas.

Mr Thompson, of Heol Madoc, New Inn, a driver for a builder's merchants, said: "I starved for a day and a half to clear my stomach. Then I was told it was cancelled. The same thing happened a couple of days later. And then again.

"You build yourself up to something like this, to have it pulled away from you is terrible.

"I'm not the only one. At hospital I met someone from Chepstow who had been in four times and sent home three. And three others were sent home with me. All because there's no intensive care beds.

"I want to see more beds."

Wife Vivienne, 57, said: "We've gone through hell. Three times he has been set up for major surgery - in one week. Meanwhile this growth is getting bigger and bigger."

Mr Thompson had cancellations on December 5, 9, 11 and 12, but hopes to be seen again in January.

He first became yellow and jaundiced while on holiday in Majorca in October.

His doctor advised immediate hospital treatment and tests found a tumour on his pancreas.

The operation, a pancreatic duodectomy, lasts five to eight hours. Tests will then determine if the growth is a cancer requiring chemotherapy.

A hospital spokesman said: "Cancelling operations is always something we prefer not to do, but sometimes it's inevitable with the increasing demands of emergency pressures on resources.

"Every effort is made to ensure that patients who have their operations postponed can be treated as soon as practicable afterwards."

* In the picture: David and Vivienne Thompson.