Over 20,000 hospital operations cancelled in 2004

New figures have shown that over 20,000 operations were cancelled in 30 Irish hospitals in 2004.

The main cause of the cancellations was a shortage of beds, but other factors included faulty equipment, staff shortages and the outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The numbers were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, and show surgical procedures were cancelled at an average rate of nearly 400 a week.

Merlin Park Regional Hospital and University College Hospital in Galway cancelled 4,000 operations, while 2,000 operations were called off at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.