The HSE has confirmed that a number of operations have been postponed at Cavan General Hospital due to the ongoing recruitment freeze.
When a consultant anaesthetist went on leave this week he was not replaced by a locum. As a result between five to eight operations a day have had to be cancelled.
The cancellation of operations happened despite assurances when the freeze was announced that patient care would not be affected.
Like most other hospitals around Ireland, Cavan General has had to make cutbacks to reduce its overspend, which for the first six months of the year amounted to around €4m.
The HSE confirmed that a small number of minor and intermediate surgical operations have been deferred, but it insists no major cases have been put back.
Although the consultant anaesthetist is on leave for two weeks, it is understood that other colleagues will then be going on leave.
A spokesperson for the HSE said every effort had been made to minimise disruption to patients.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the waiting lists in Cavan were very short and it was important to keep the small number of deferrals in perspective.
