A pensioner says his life is being put on hold because his hospital operation keeps being cancelled.

Brian Budd's routine hernia operation has been called off four times in nine months because no bed has been available.

Mr Budd, from Portslade, said he was surprised when he read our recent story about John Burns, from Hove, who has also had an operation cancelled four times.

He said: "It could have been about me. I wonder how many others are in the same boat?"

Staff at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton say they are working to fit Mr Budd in as soon as possible but have had ongoing problems with delayed discharges and a high number of emergency cases.

Mr Budd, 66, said: "I have problems with a weak heart and the last thing I need is too much stress.

"It is starting to get a bit silly now. I know it is not an urgent operation but the messing around is getting on my nerves.

"The first time the operation was cancelled a new appointment was scheduled for two weeks later and the second time it was put back three weeks.

"After the third time it was only a week until another operation was booked but again it was called off.

"I found out on Tuesday the operation was cancelled for the fourth time but I haven't had a letter with a new date yet.

"It is more irritating than anything else. I feel like my life is being put on hold until this gets done and out of the way."

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust says it is working on measures to shorten waiting times.

These include referring some patients to private hospitals for treatment.