A WHEELCHAIR-bound grandfather, who is in need of an operation on his brain, has been turned away from hospital twice because there was not enough space.

Ian Gore, 59, from Clayton-le-Moors, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm in July last year.

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Mr Gore, who also suffers from secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, was asked to make an appointment at Royal Preston Hospital to have a coil put in his brain to prevent the aneurysm bursting.

After going to hospital on Wednesday, May 4, with his wife Elaine, 59, the pair were turned away due to a sudden increase in emergency appointments.

He was scheduled to return on Wednesday, May 18, but was called by the hospital on Monday, May 16, to say his appointment was cancelled again.

Mrs Gore, who is her husband’s full-time carer, said she is very upset as her husband is going into respite care on Thursday, June 2, and she wanted the operation to have been completed in time.

She said: “I’m very upset about what has happened. The first time the hospital said there were too many emergency cases, which can happen in a hospital.

“But to be called two days before my husband is due to go in because of emergency cases just doesn’t seem right or fair.

“Being his full-time carer, it’s important that I know he is safe and well and has recovered from his operation before I can go on holiday and get some time off.

“Ian gets very stressed because he has MS to deal with as well and knowing the aneurysm could burst is horrible.

“We feel like we are being pushed away and Ian needs the operation just as much as anyone else does.”

An aneurysm is a weak area in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the vessel to bulge out. A common procedure is to have a coil placed around the aneurysm to prevent it from breaking.

Operations director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Suzanne Hargreaves, said: “Firstly we sincerely apologise to Mr Gore and his family for any distress that has been caused.

“So far 2016 has been an extremely busy year and we are continuously seeing an increase in patients all year round. Since the start of May we have seen 108 more patients who need emergency admission to our hospitals, compared with the same period last year.

“Unfortunately when our hospitals are so full we have no option but to postpone a number of planned procedures.

“This is to make sure we have enough capacity and resources to look after the increasing number of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions who need urgent care.

“We are committed to providing the highest standard of care for our patients and Mr Gore’s operation has now been re-scheduled.”

Russ McClean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, said: “First of all my apologies go out to the patient. The situation is unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable.

“Although that hospital, like every hospital, has seen increases in emergency admissions, that is not an excuse.

“This man needs surgery quite urgently. My heart goes out to him and his family.”