Health chiefs have apologised to a family after an operation to help their son breathe was repeatedly cancelled.

NHS Lothian said the decision to cancel appointments for Layton Tait's surgery at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh was "never taken lightly".

The 16-month-old suffers from a breathing condition known as "floppy airway", or laryngomalcia.

He was also found to have a collapsed voicebox that was pressing on his windpipe during a check-up last year.

Experts at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh told Layton’s parents Libby Caldwell and Calum Tait that he would need a bed in an intensive care unit after surgery on his voicebox.

The procedure has been cancelled four times since November; once as the surgeon was unwell and three times due to a lack of beds in intensive care.

Ms Caldwell, of Muirhouse in Edinburgh, complained to NHS Lothian about the length of time they had to wait, despite surgeons saying the operation was urgently needed.

In a statement, NHS Lothian insisted that operations were only rescheduled when absolutely necessary.

Dr Edward Doyle, associate medical director at the health board, said: "I have apologised to the patient's mum for the distress caused to her and her family and organised a new date for surgery to ensure that his procedure is carried out as soon as possible.

"I know that rescheduled appointments can be upsetting, but I would stress it is a decision that is never taken lightly. There are unavoidable circumstances which can lead to an operation being rescheduled, including increased emergency admissions, which due to their severity require immediate access to our facilities."

Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, Ms Caldwell said: "My boy needs the operation and it is so hard waiting. It is always on the morning of the surgery, when I've had to make sure he fasts and everything beforehand. It’s so difficult for him."