NHS Tayside has been slammed after a 9% rise in cancelled elective operations in just 12 months.
Almost 3,000 elective surgeries were cancelled in 2013, 274 more than the previous year, despite a rise in surgeries performed of just 0.1%.
Of the cancelled surgeries in Tayside hospitals in 2013, 11% were a result of staff shortages, equipment failure, administrative errors and bed unavailability, an increase of 37.4% on 2012.
It is understood one operation was cancelled due to unsterile equipment.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Last year nearly one surgery every day was cancelled as a result of preventable issues like bed shortages, staff shortages and equipment failures, a rise of nearly 40% on the year before.
“Staff are being pushed to breaking point as a result of Scottish Government cuts and ultimately cracks are beginning to show.
“In 2012, just 14 surgeries were cancelled as a result of ward bed shortages, however, that number has jumped to 77 last year.
“It would appear to be a growing problem that the Scottish Government and NHS Tayside must meet head on.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Only 1.5% of the thousands of operations planned across Scotland were cancelled following admission to hospital according to the latest figures. In Tayside, the proportion was even lower, at 1.2%.”
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said staff try their very best to minimise any disruption to planned elective cases, appreciating the upset and inconvenience caused to patients and families.
“Our services must respond to many demands every day with our priority being patient safety at all times.
“As an example, if an elective procedure is cancelled due to a shortage of beds, then this will be because we will be experiencing an increase in the numbers of patients being admitted into hospital for emergency and unscheduled care.
“It is worth noting that the 334 elective procedures cancelled due to things like bed shortages is 1% of the total number of electives carried out. However we will only cancel as a last resort.”