Independent TD Jerry Cowley has reacted with fury to new figures showing that more than 20,000 operations were cancelled in Irish hospitals last year.
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information act, show the main cause for the cancellations was a shortage of beds, but other factors included faulty equipment, staff shortages and outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug.
Reacting to the statistics, Dr Cowley said he had first-hand experience of the traumatic effect these cancellations have on patients and their families.
"I have no words to describe the anger that people feel and I have no way to describe the frustration that I feel or other general practitioners feel," he said.