Anger at OAP's 13-month op delay.

A GRANDAD has hit out at ``lying'' politicians after being forced to wait 13 months for a hernia operation.

Albert Scudder, 70, has seen his conditiondeteriorate during the long wait.

He accused ministers of distorting the truth after they released figures which claim no NHS patient has had to wait more than a year for treatment.

Albert said: ``I can't believe they're saying things are getting better in the NHS when I am a prime example that they are not.

``I'm in pain all the time and I need this operation.

``But I keep being told that I can't have it because there's a shortage of anaesthetists.''

Surgery to remove a kidney in July 2002 left him with an incisional hernia.

His consultant told Albert, of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, he would operate before Christmas 2002.

But last week, Albert said Grampian University Hospitals trust told him priority is being given to people with cancers and tumours.

He was stunned when he heard Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm say the NHS had kept hospital waiting times below 12 months.

The once-active pensioner said: ``These politicians are strangers to the truth.''

A health board spokeswoman said NHS Grampian adhered to nine-month guarantee times laid down by the Executive for specialities such as general surgery, urology and orthopaedics.

An Executive spokeswoman said they relied on figures provided by health boards and trusts.

CAPTION(S):

ANGRY: Albert Scudder;