Blacktown MP Gibson said this in State Parliament last week. He said several specialists had told him that their patients had been changed from Category 2 (to be seen within 90 days) to Category 3 (to be seen within 365 days).

Mr Gibson said the specialists had also alleged that Blacktown patients had been sent to Auburn for their procedures without their knowledge and that they feared for the safety of their patients.

Mr Gibson said one of the doctors, who would not be named, had 10 Category 1 patients (to be seen within 30 days), about 50 Category 2 patients, and about 100 in Category 3.

``He had about 20 patients incorrectly placed in Category 3 instead of Category 2 by hospital clerical staff,'' he said.

``These patients' admission dates for procedures were within the next 60 days, meaning they are now 100 days overdue for their procedures.''

But the Sydney West Area Health Service network director for surgery, Paul Summers, was adamant that Blacktown Hospital had never reclassified Category 2 patients booked for colonoscopies to Category 3 without the direction of a doctor.

He said the treating doctor would normally request the category for colonoscopy patients based on their needs.

Mr Summers said Blacktown patients had been transferred to Auburn Hospital only to reduce waiting times and only after consultations with the doctors.

``As of December 2008, 688 extra waiting list procedures were provided,'' he said. ``There are now no Category 3 colonoscopy patients over 365 days on the waiting list for Blacktown or Mount Druitt hospitals.''