Patrick McGailey with (from left) Kasie, Tabitha, Theresa and Misty Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76849-23A DAD-OF-FIVE claims he is living in poverty because surgeons are too busy to operate on his faulty heart.

Patrick McGailey, 42, of Broad Street, has survived two heart attacks.

He says that last August, doctors at Great Western Hospital told Mr McGailey that a third attack is likely to prove fatal.

A consultant said he would need an angioplasty an operation to unblock arteries in his heart at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

In January he was told the operation would take place in March.

Three months on and he is still waiting.

The revelation comes a day after we revealed how Paul Lovegrove, 43, of Wootton Bassett, had to wait nine weeks for his angioplasty.

Health bosses in Bristol admit have there is a problem and it's not an isolated case.

Mr McGailey, a skilled kitchen fitter, claims he is being denied the chance to be a dad to daughters, Kaise, three, Tabitha, nine, Misty, 13, Jasmine, 15, and Sasha, 16.

"I can't even climb the stairs without getting really short of breath," he said.

"My wife, Teresa, takes the kids swimming once a week but I have to stay at home. I've been told that I shouldn't do anything strenuous the most I can manage is a walk to the local shops."

Mr McGailey, who has been unable to work for nearly nine months, claims the family are struggling to make ends meet.

"We're living on around £70 a week and it's not enough when you've got five kids to feed," he said.

"Before I had the first heart attack I was working 12-hour shifts and bringing in good money.

"I am being told not to get stressed how can I do that when the bills are piling up?"

Kevin Shoesmith