A FRUSTRATED prostate patient, who claims Kidderminster hospital patients are suffering unnecessary delays, has been given a new date for next Wednesday.

The Shuttle/Times & News contacted Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to see why Keith Robertson, who was promised an operation in May, had not been given a date.

The next day he was told he would have an operation at Droitwich Spa Private Hospital.

However, Mr Robertson, who has been waiting 10 weeks, fears many town patients have been waiting too long for bladder and prostate operations, despite the county waiting list falling in the last five months.

The acute trust confirmed urology waiting times had fallen from more than 650 at the end of December to less than 550 this month.

Mr Robertson, 55, of Swallow Drive, whose plight was featured in the newspaper last month, said: "It seems more than a coincidence I have been given a new date only a day after the Shuttle called the trust.

"I got about seven calls from people in their 70s and 80s after the last article but these are people who although in great need are reluctant to put pressure on.

"They came from that generation which believes a doctor's word is gospel."

He added: "The figure may have gone down across the county but I still feel Kidderminster patients are suffering because beforehand you went to see the consultant and you were given a date immediately."

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman said the reason for Mr Robertson's delay had been the impact of effective cancer initiatives.

She said: "More patients are presenting earlier with cancer symptoms and the trust has to meet this demand as a priority.

"This has inevitably had an impact on delaying less urgent elective work."

She added the urology list county-wide had fallen from over 650 at the end of December to less than 550 now.

She was unable to give figures for Kidderminster patients.