A Canterbury man has been prepped for surgery five times only to have his operation cancelled at the last minute each time, due apparently to a shortgage of anaesthetic technicians.
Self-employed Hanmer man Robin Cook broke his leg after falling off a ladder more than a week ago.
Since then he's been in Christchurch Hospital, in an overflow bed, waiting for surgery. The health system in Canterbury's been described as in crisis, with only 73 percent of planned surgeries curently being completed in the region due largely to workforce shortages - particularly of anaesthetic technicians.
Robin's partner Sue Mercer talks to Lisa Owen.
