An increase in trauma emergencies led to the cancellation of 17 orthopaedic operations in Ayrshire and Arran over the festive period.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran released a statement saying these types of cases are "not unusual" for this time of year.

Accident and emergency departments across Scotland faced a surge in demand between Christmas Day and Hogmanay resulting in more than 5000 patients being forced to wait over four hours to be seen.

Acute services director Liz Moore said: "We apologise to each patient who has had to have their planned orthopaedic surgery postponed due to the number of emergency cases which we have had to treat.

"The nature of emergency admissions means that we cannot foresee when our theatres need to be used to carry out vital emergency surgery.

"We have received a high number of emergency admissions over the past two weeks which has unfortunately, meant that we have had to cancel some of the elective/planned orthopaedic procedures.

"This is regrettable but necessary."