Fears over the future of operations at a North Yorkshire hospital will be raised in the House of Commons next week by the local MP.

John Greenway, Tory MP for Ryedale, has secured a half-hour adjournment debate on Malton Hospital on Monday night.

The Scarborough health trust responsible for the hospital has told it not to perform any more operations involving general anaesthetics because of a shortage of anaethetists.

Mr Greenway said: "This announcement has been brought in without any consultation whatsoever. Last year, 640 patients at Malton had general anesthetic operations. Where will patients go now?"

Mr Greenway will use the debate to press health ministers for an assurance that operations will restart once two vacant consultant posts have been filled.