HUNDREDS of patients have had their surgery cancelled by the Great Western Hospital since the beginning of the year according to data obtained in a freedom of information request.

With 141 elective operations cancelled at the hospital for non-medical reasons since the start of 2015, Swindon was the second highest place in the whole of the south west where operations were cancelled.

Hospital chiefs put the cancellations down to increased demand and growing pressures on services.

A spokesman said: “Patient safety and quality of care is our absolute priority and therefore on occasions when we are extremely busy we do have to make difficult decisions and prioritise patients needing urgent care, such as cancer patients.”

More than 900 patients throughout the region had their surgery cancelled, with nearly half - 436 - due to be seen at Gloucestershire's two main hospitals.