A ''Sword of Damocles'', in the form of an aortic aneurysm that could rupture anytime, hangs over heart surgery patient Wallace Faulds, his wife, Glennys, says.
For the second time in a week, Mr Faulds' open-heart surgery at Dunedin Hospital has been cancelled because of pressure on the hospital. Mr Faulds (74) had been admitted for surgery on Monday but was sent home without having the procedure, Mrs Faulds said.
He had had pre-operation preparation for surgery. Mr Faulds was one of dozens of elective surgery cases put off this week as Dunedin Hospital struggles with bed occupancy of more than 100%.
He was scheduled for surgery yesterday but was told the night before there were too few beds in the intensive care unit and he was going home.
''It's a pretty scary thing. It's a bit like having a Sword of Damocles over your head, or a ticking time bomb in your chest.''
Mrs Faulds said the Government needed to put more resources into the health system to allow it to cope at times of high demand. She has nothing but praise for the doctors and nurses.
''I feel really bad for them, because they're disappointed for the patients and the families.
''It's horrible for them having to tell you that `sorry, we're not going to be able to do it'.''
The Faulds were given the bad news during a tour of ICU, when patients and their families are shown where post-operative care takes place.
Balclutha Primary School principal Paddy Ford also had his surgery, for a hip replacement, cancelled twice in one week. Significant preparation was needed for his absence from school and he had gone through that process twice.
''I don't want to bag the doctors or the nurses because I think they do a fantastic job and I've been one of the people who's been on the receiving end of emergency treatment in the past.''
He acknowledged urgent patients had to take priority, and praised the efforts of staff to keep on top of the situation. But it highlighted the need for more beds and resources at Dunedin Hospital.
''Obviously, there's not enough beds or facilities to cope with illness and accidents.''
Both times, he had arranged for his absence: the other staff prepared to take on more responsibility, and a relief teacher was hired.
Mr Ford (57), of Dunedin, said he could not do parts of his job at present because of his incapacity.
Acting chief medical officer Dick Bunton said all elective surgery set down for yesterday had been cancelled apart from day surgery and eye surgery.
He was not sure if electives scheduled for today would go ahead.
''How do you think the staff feel?
''It's something we absolutely hate doing because it's a big thing in someone's life [surgery].
''If you can suggest a solution, that would be fantastic.''
Mr Bunton acknowledged that Mr Faulds' aneurysm could rupture, but the risk had to be balanced against more urgent patients.
Even an urgent heart patient's procedure had to be put off yesterday, but it should be done today.
''It's not just the electives that get cancelled.''
Mr Bunton did not know exactly how many procedures were put off, but it would have been dozens.
Yesterday, Dunedin Hospital's stretched emergency department was raised in Parliament after the Otago Daily Times reported some patients were waiting in corridors.
Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman deflected Labour health spokeswoman Annette King's question by drawing attention to the former health minister's tenure, when she had come under fire for patients being in corridors.
''I was talking to Carole Heatly, the chief executive of the Southern District Health Board, during the last hour.
She was saying that [on Monday] between Dunedin and Invercargill there were fewer than 10 people waiting briefly, having been seen, before they were transferred into the wards.
''So, it is a very different situation than Mrs King's failed tenure as health minister,'' Dr Coleman said.
In a press release, Mrs King said the situation highlighted the Government's underfunding of health.
''National continues to insist everything is rosy, but our health system is stretched to breaking point.
''In both Opposition and Government, National has used patients waiting in corridors as an example of failure in the health system. Now, their own measure is coming back to bite them,'' Mrs King said.
