He said hospital records showed Lionel Davis, 85, did not have a hospital-acquired infection and the hospital does not allocate any of its surgical cardiac beds according to the age of the patient.

“As was explained to Mr Davis and his family before Mr Davis’s operation, given Mr Davis’s advanced age and many other medical problems, there was always a risk in undertaking this surgery,” he said.

“It was this risk factor which contributed to the postponing of the surgery on several occasions while the hospital investigated other possible options.

“The surgery was under-taken with the full consent and on the insistence of both Mr Davis and his family.

“The hospital again extends its sympathies to Mr Davis’s loved ones.”

He said under the Patient Assisted Trans-port Scheme, if a patient’s surgery is cancelled by the hospital, the patient will still be entitled to claim for a cost reimbursement.