A grandfather-of-11 says he is living with a 'ticking timebomb' after his life-saving cancer operation has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Martin Wood, from Dudley, needs to have a cancerous right kidney removed if he is to win his battle with the disease and a date was penned in for September.
But following his diagnosis in April at the start of the first UK lockdown he has been a dealt a second blow with the news that his operation has been delayed due to the second Covid-19 wave.
The 62-year-old, who has stage three cancer, was due to receive the specialist procedure at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Mr Wood told Birmingham Live: "If I don't have this operation I will die. It's as simple as that.
Have you had a vital cancer operation postponed because of coronavirus? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
"It's effectively a ticking timebomb.
"The QE have told me they have no date for me due to Covid. I know I'm fifth in line to get treatment, but who knows when that will be?"
Mr Wood, who has already had a scan and biopsy, is due to have the right kidney, tumour, right adrenal gland and all the lymph nodes on that side removed.
He added: "I thought the Government says the NHS is open for business - but why are cancer patients being discriminated against?
"Anymore delays to any life threatening operations is catastrophic. All patients need to get the treatment we expect.
"My diagnosis was in April. I had surgery cancelled in September. I know Covid is a problem and staffing is an issue, but everyone is equal. I only want to be treated fairly."
Dudley, where Mr Wood lives, has the fourth highest infection rate across the nation at 561 cases per 100,00 people.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust apologised over postponed procedures.
“We deeply apologise to our patients who are understandably distressed and upset when their procedures are postponed," a statement said.
“The Trust is continuing to carry out clinically very urgent cancer and emergency surgery while under immense Covid and non-Covid pressures.
"We are holding daily multidisciplinary team meetings at which cancer surgery is prioritised and listed within the very restricted capacity we are currently able to use.”
