SEVEN out of eight North-East NHS hospital trusts saw an increase in the number of operations cancelled during July to September 2014 compared to the same quarter in 2013.

The survey by the Labour Party found big rises in operation cancellations at City Hospitals Sunderland (up from 40 to 99), South Tyneside (up from six to 13) and Northumbria Healthcare (up from 33 to 68).

There were also increases at Gateshead Health (up from 30 to 54), South Tees (up from 84 to 110) and North Tees and Hartlepool (up from 43 to 51).

There was a small increase at Newcastle Hospitals (up from 118 to 129) but a fall in the number of cancellations at County Durham and Darlington.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“Under David Cameron, hospitals are full to bursting, with record numbers in A&E departments, and it is clearly dragging down the rest of the NHS.

“Thousands of patients face the indignity of having an operation cancelled at the very last minute. Meanwhile it’s getting harder to see your GP and A&Es are struggling more than at any point for a decade too.

“These figures are yet further proof that you cannot trust the Tories with the NHS.”