AN elderly heart patient at the centre of a political row is recovering after heart surgery in the region.

Claims that the 80-year-old patient had his urgent heart operation cancelled five times were made during ITV's Dimbleby programme on Sunday.

Studio audience member Karl Poulson, who is Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Tynemouth, challenged Health Secretary Alan Milburn to make sure that people were not put through the "absolute turmoil" endured by the man and his family.

Mr Milburn, who has made an improvement in heart surgery one of his main priorities as Health Secretary promised to look into the case. He dismissed suggestions that having a heart operation cancelled five times was "commonplace" in the NHS.

Yesterday, Len Fenwick, chief executive of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, confirmed that the 80-year-old had undergone heart surgery and was "critical but stable" at the Freeman Hospital, on Tyneside.

Mr Fenwick acknowledged that the operation had been cancelled on several occasions but doubted whether the cancellations amounted to five.

The chief executive said it had been particularly difficult to book in the elderly patient because it was known he would need a longer than normal period of intensive care treatment following surgery.

Because of the pressures on the hospital's intensive care unit - which is due to be expanded - it had not been possible to carry out the surgery until Monday.

Mr Fenwick, who has apologised to the patient for the delays, said more dedicated cardiothoracic intensive care beds were needed and this was planned as part of projected improvements at the Freeman Hospital, and South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Earlier this year an extra £30m was invested in improving intensive care facilities in the region, as part of measures intended to ease potential winter pressures.

bnelson