A HOSPITAL trust has apologised after a diabetic man went for 12 hours without food or insulin ahead of major heart surgery that was then cancelled.

Anthony Wright (66), from Tedburn St Mary, has made an official complaint to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

He was also put in a hotel before the planned operation.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said there were not enough intensive care beds available, adding major surgery was only cancelled as a “last resort”.

Mr Wright, who was due to have the operation on August 26, said: “It’s administratively inept - I really don’t want to go back to Derriford.

“They’ve wasted your (taxpayers’) money putting people into hotels, putting people into taxis. How much is being wasted nationwide?”

A spokesperson from the trust said: “We can only apologise sincerely to Mr Wright for not being able to operate on him as planned and also for him not receiving the standard of care he should have.

“Cancelling a patient when they are due major surgery is something we are absolutely loathe to do and we only ever do it as a last resort.”

The spokesperson added: “Very unwell patients had stayed longer than expected and there were not enough intensive care beds for all the patients who needed major surgery.”

The trust said it “will offer to meet with Mr Wright once we have fully investigated his complaint... and offer him another date for his operation.”