NHS managers have launched a recruitment drive for children's nurses to combat cancelled operations at the Radcliffe Infirmary.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said staff shortages on Coombe Ward, one of two at the Woodstock Road hospital's paediatric unit, meant it could not always be used for young patients who needed to stay overnight.

The situation has been aggravated by an increase in the number of very sick children being admitted to the RI and its sister site the John Radcliffe Hospital, Head- ington.

Staff at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees both hospitals, said the influx was common during the winter months, when chronically sick children were vulnerable to chest infections and other seasonal illnesses.

Beds at the JR children's unit have been expanded by a sixth to cope with the extra patients, but "on the odd occasion" children due to be treated at the RI have had their operations cancelled.

Tim Hammond's five-year-old son, also called Tim, was due to have his tonsils and adenoids removed at the RI on Monday, but the surgery was called off at the last minute. Self-employed Mr Hammond, from Bedford, said: "I have lost two day's work and I think this is an absolute disgrace.

"There was no real warning or anything. I phoned on the Sunday evening and was told the operation had been cancelled. I understand when severely ill children have to take priority, but this is just about staff shortages."

A trust spokesman said 15-bed Coombe Ward was a "flexi-ward" which supported Leopold, the RI's main children's ward, by doing non-emergency cases like tonsillectomies.

Although it is open during the day Monday-Friday, it can only operate during the night when there are enough staff. If Leopold Ward is full, children waiting for routine surgery who have to stay overnight, are turned away.

The spokesman said: "Nationally, there is a severe shortage of trained children's nurses and the trust is trying very hard to combat this locally.

"Our first priority is always to provide the safest level of clinical care for the children we treat, and if that is not possible because of a shortage of nursing staff, then occasionally we have to limit our capacity by not opening all our available beds.

The JR's paediatric department, which normally has 48 beds, has been increased to 56 to cope with extra patients.