A Beamsville woman frustrated after her hip replacement surgery was cancelled less than an hour before it was scheduled.

Marian Christy was prepped and ready to go at the St. Catharines General Wednesday when a nurse came to her and said her elective surgery was cancelled.

The reason was a high volume of patients in the emergency room needing beds.

Christy says she's not upset with the Niagara Health System, rather the province - Health Minister Deb Matthews in particular.

She says Matthews doesn't understand what patients go through in getting ready for surgery.

Niagara Health System St. Catharines General Site Manager Donna Rothwell says cancelling elective surgeries is not a decision they take lightly, but occasionally has to be done to ensure patient safety.

Rothwell does tell CKTB it's not something that happens often.