An elderly Mayo man has been called for prostate surgery on six occasions over 16 months and each time sent home without treatment.
During the period he received a letter from a Western Health Board official wishing him a speedy recovery. The man, a medical-card holder, is finally to have the operation on Saturday week.
A Mayo Fine Gael TD, Mr Michael Ring, said the situation was outrageous. He said he had verified the claims through the patient's doctor.
"Because this man is a medical-card holder he is being discriminated against," he said. "If he was paying for the operation he would receive priority treatment. It is a disgrace that we should have such a two-tier medical system."
If the operation did not go ahead he would raise the matter in the Dail every day until the man received treatment, Mr Ring said.
He said the patient had been scheduled for the operation at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, on October 4th, 1998, and on last January 17th, June 13th and 27th, July 27th and in October.
Mr Ring said: "This man had prepared mentally for the operation but was turned away on six occasions. He was very upset and distressed by this."
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tom Moffatt, said the planned operations had been cancelled as a result of emergency admissions and a lack of available beds.
He added: "The board has expressed regret for the inconvenience and distress caused to this person as a result of the cancellations and has undertaken that every effort will be made to ensure that treatment will be provided on February 19th."