Some cancer patients at the Royal Victoria Hospital may see their surgery delayed, at least in part because of maternity leaves.

The Royal Vic has already delayed certain surgery because of a shortage of O.R. nurses. It was reported earlier this year that many nurses had gone on maternity leave at around the same time. Now the hospital is warning cancer patients of possible delays in their surgery.

The Quebec Patients Rights Council says that would be inexcusable.

Council president Paul Brunet says our schools have never turned out as many new nurses as they are now, but says many of them are being absorbed into the private sector where he says they're likelier to find an immediate full time job. Brunet says it would be a simple thing for hospitals to make up any nursing shortfalls by hiring some of those private sector nurses fulltime.