Anxious patients arriving for long-awaited operations were sent home due to a shortage of beds at the Victoria Hospital.
A surge in emergency admissions meant some less urgent operations and procedures had to be cancelled at the last minute as wards were full at the Kirkcaldy hospital.
Patients arrived at 8am on Tuesday ready to undergo surgery only to be told to go away later in the morning.
It is not yet known how many procedures were called off but one patient told how she saw 12 to 15 people turned away in the two hours she was there and it is understood a similar situation occurred last week.
Sarah Ro-Jackson, 30, of Cupar, was among those sent home from the day surgery unit after waiting a year for an operation to remove uncomfortable screws inserted to repair her broken jaw.
The student support worker, who took time off work for the procedure, was furious when she learned her operation had been cancelled and has no idea when it will now take place.
She said: “I was there before 8am and it was 10am before I was told my operation was cancelled. There were another 12 to 15 people also turned away.
“You get yourself all worked up for an operation, especially after the last time, as I was in intensive care.”
Although not in pain, Sarah is anxious to have the screws removed.
She said: “They go through my gums and I can feel them with my tongue.”
Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley said it was further evidence of insufficient capacity at the hospital, which was revamped and extended to the tune of £170 million, and reiterated his call for a review of the management of NHS Fife.
He said: “It is tragic for the people involved. This is more evidence that we have serious problems in terms of meeting the health needs of the people of Fife.”
Mr Rowley urged patients affected by the cancellations to contact him to help him build a case for a review.
He believes the model NHS Fife used to centralise services at the Victoria Hospital at the expense of Dunfermline’s Queen Margaret Hospital may have been flawed.
He said: “This is clearly part of the ongoing problems that are being experienced at the Victoria Hospital.
“That is why I have asked for an independent investigation into the ability of NHS Fife to meet the health needs of the people of Fife.
“Right now I don’t have confidence that NHS Fife can meet those needs. There are not enough beds.
“The assumptions made when services were centralised in the Victoria Hospital need to be reexamined. We are heading towards winter, when there will be even more pressure on hospital services.”
NHS Fife confirmed some operations had been cancelled due to a surge in emergency admissions and apologised to those affected.
Chief executive John Wilson said: “NHS Fife is currently experiencing a high demand for its services, with high levels of emergency admissions.
“In order to ensure patients presenting as emergencies and requiring admissions are given appropriate care, the health board has taken the decision that it is necessary to prioritise the treatment of elective patients who most urgently require care.
“This has resulted in the need to cancel some non-cancer elective activity and looking to continue care at home, where possible.
“NHS Fife is making every effort to ensure all cancelled operations are promptly rescheduled and would like to apologise to patients who have been affected by this increase in demand.”