A pensioner who has just two weeks to live without life-saving surgery will have to wait at least seven days for the operation.
Paddy Trueman, 69, has jaundice and a blockage to his pancreas that could kill him if he does not get the surgery in time.
But after being told he may have to wait on a surgeon returning from Australia, Paddy, from Greenock, Inverclyde, fears what could happen.
He was also forced to find a temporary home for his beloved dog Milo while he received the operation, but the delay has left him unable to make plans for the pet.
He has now been told he may have to wait until Monday at least before it can be performed.
Paddy said: "I was very jaundiced and spent three days on a drip to purify my system.
"On Friday morning the surgeon told me that without the operation to clear a blockage to my pancreas I had one or maybe two weeks to live.
"I'm on a slippery slope and there will soon be nothing they are able to do for me. I nearly fell through the floor when I heard that."
He is scheduled to have the operation at Ayr Hospital but has been told they are waiting for a surgeon to return from Australia.
If he isn't available, someone else will carry out the life-saving surgery.
He was allowed home last weekend and told to call back at the start of the week.
But Paddy said he was passed around various people before being told he would need to wait for a further call this Monday.
Paddy said: "I was shocked and taken aback.
"I couldn't believe after being told I had perhaps only a fortnight to live, that I was being told to sit and wait for a phone call that would be days away.
"I was all guns blazing, I was going for it.
"After being told this news I couldn't sleep, I had terrible thoughts about what could happen now going through my mind.
"I had it all planned, I had budgeted my time for when Milo was going to be looked after. It's put me in a pickle.
"I feel like saying forget it. I went into my old church and said a prayer and I've been buying healthy food hoping to turn it around.
"Hopefully my operation will come in time and I will get a few more years. All I want is for me and Milo to have the chance to grow older together."
Liz Moore, director for acute services at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: "NHS Ayrshire and Arran takes all patients' feedback, comments, concerns or complaints very seriously.
"We would encourage any patient to contact us directly if they have any concerns about their care and treatment.
"This is the only way that we can provide information on the patient.
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