THE National Health Service in York does a tremendous job for many people. It's just a shame that Stanley Spencer has been left feeling that he is not among them.

The widower, 60, has had vital heart surgery cancelled ten times due to bed shortages at York Hospital.

Mr Spencer thought his wait of 18 months for surgery was over when he was admitted last month, but arriving at the hospital was only the start of another long and unfinished chapter.

After eight days in the hospital, during which his operation was cancelled three times, Mr Spencer was sent home for a week. Following his re-admittance, he has faced a further series of last-minute cancellations. On one occasion, the surgery was called off 20 minutes before the operation was due.

Cliff-hangers are all very well in TV medical dramas, but surely they are better avoided in real hospitals.

This is clearly not a situation about which anyone is happy - not the hospital which keeps having to postpone the operation and certainly not Mr Spencer, who has been left in a frustrating limbo. It is also a potentially lethal limbo, because Mr Spencer suffers from two aneurysms, which he believes could kill him at any time.

Waiting for any major surgery is a stressful business; living with the fear that you could die at any minute is an intolerable burden. Mr Spencer clearly feels that he has not yet received proper treatment and it is easy to sympathise with him.

York Hospital blames a lack of an intensive care bed for Mr Spencer's post-operative care. Expansion of critical care is promised and this cannot come soon enough.

The Government is always telling us that more and more money is being pumped into the health service. Sometimes it is possible to wonder exactly where all that money is going.

Updated: 10:13 Monday, April 19, 2004