Figures released a during parliamentary debate show that the number of operations cancelled for non-medical reasons has increased dramatically in England.
Yeovil MP David Laws tabled the question and said he was shocked to see the figures.
Statistics for 2000-01 show an increase for English health authorities from 50,505 cancelled operation in 1997-98 to 77,818 - which is more than a 50% jump.
From a local point of view, Mr Laws was fairly pleased with the performance of Somerset Health Authority. There was no figure available from 1997-98 but the 510 cancelled operations during 2000-01 represented 0.8per cent of all planned operations - comparing favourably with other health authorities in the south west, whose figures ranged from 0.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent.
"I am concerned that the number of cancelled operations may grow if additional resources are not invested in more NHS beds, and in tackling the lack of care home places," he said.
During the parliamentary debate, the Secretary of State for Health told Mr Laws: "From April 2002, when a patient's operation is cancelled by the hospital on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice."
* Yeovil MP David Laws has been informed that the government is to invest £20 million next year in digital hearing aids.
According to Mr Laws, health trusts will have to submit bids, with the 30 most successful ones being given a slice of the money.
"I have now written to Jane Barrie, of Somerset Health Authority, asking her to do what she can to ensure that our area will be one of the 30 winners of this funding.
"Pressure on the government appears to have paid off. However, I am well aware that by the end of next year, two thirds of people who are deaf or hard of hearing will still not have access to digital hearing aids on the NHS. I will continue to campaign on this issue," Mr Laws explained.