Doctors are being forced to prioritise the most serious cases for surgery as NHS Grampian cannot meet its waiting time targets.
Patients not deemed “urgent” enough face lengthy delays for treatment under a new system giving priority to those suffering from the most critical ailments.
Angela Smart, of Fetterangus, faced a six-month wait for treatment last year before finally being offered surgery 180 miles from her home.
Last night, a patient rights’ group said everyone deserved to be treated within 12-weeks, not just the most urgent cases.
And local politicians called for the Scottish Government to step in to assist the health board – but said in the meantime, chiefs were “absolutely right” to prioritise urgent clinical cases.
Health chiefs admitted they are “unable” to meet the 12-week timescale set by the Scottish Government and said they have started classifying patients.
The board could not estimate how much longer patients would have to wait for operations.
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “NHS Grampian is currently unable to see all elective surgical patients within the 12-weeks timescale set out by the Scottish Government.
“In light of this situation our first priority is to ensure the most urgent patients get treated promptly.
“Therefore we are in the process of implementing an elective classification system to ensure those patients waiting longer are those clinically most able to do so.
“The classification is clinically led and covers all adult surgical services.
“We realise this will be disappointing news for those patients classed as able to wait longer.
“This is a pragmatic interim solution to maintain safety whilst current waits are longer than we would like.”
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald last night urged the government to provide NHS Grampian with the resources it needs to provide treatment for all its patients and not just the most urgent cases.
He added: “I think on a clinical level, NHS Grampian is absolutely right to make this move. Clinical urgency is the first thing to consider.
“But from a wider perspective, they are only being forced to do this because they don’t have the resources to deliver all the operations they need to.
“The Scottish Government needs to step up to the plate and provide NHS Grampian with what it needs to be able to recruit the staff they need in theatre and in intensive care because they are struggling to do that.”
Professor Jamie Weir, spokesman for the Patient Action Coordination Team (PACT), said all patients deserved to be treated within the 12-week waiting time – not just the most urgent cases.
He blamed the current situation on a shortage of staff and resources.
He added: “Patients are having to wait much longer than is necessary. It is not good – not good at all.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have been clear with all health boards that patients who are waiting for treatment such as elective surgery are seen as quickly as possible.
“It is important that patients with the highest clinical priority, such as cancer patients, are seen quickly.
“NHS Grampian has been in contact with us on this matter and we continue to work with the health board to ensure all patients are seen in a timely manner based on their condition.”
The 12-week treatment time guarantee was brought in by Nicola Sturgeon when she was health secretary in 2011.
It was enshrined in law which meant health boards were legally compelled to comply but there are no sanctions for failing to do so.
In December 2016, just 79.7% if patients were treated within the target.
Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said the revelation left the SNP pledge on waiting times in “tatters”.
He added: “The Scottish Government has imposed these targets right across the country without ever offering sufficient resources for them to be met.
“It proves the SNP cannot be trusted to make a decent fist of running our NHS.