HUNDREDS more patients have been told their surgery can not go ahead as planned after the closure of a unit that sterilises surgical instruments.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said a further 245 ops had been postponed on Thursday, bringing the total to 569.

The Evening Times revealed a week ago that the Cowlairs unit had been closed after an inspection raised safety concerns, said to be related to the fabric of the building.

The health board has now been given the green light to resume services at the unit in Springburn but it is likely to be days before it is fully operational.

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "Our quality assurance advisers have confirmed reinstatement of the Certification the Cowlairs Decontamination Unit. 

"Our own internal infection control environmental testing is continuing. 

Read more: Hundreds of operations cancelled after surgical unit fails inspection 

"As soon as this testing is completed we will begin the process of bringing the unit back into full production.

"Patient safety remains our top priority, and, it is essential that these processes are fully completed which is likely to take a few days. The precise date will be confirmed as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, we continue to maximise our alternative capacity, working with other health boards, to ensure our emergency, trauma and urgent cases are prioritised. 

"In order to protect this emergency activity, we postponed a further 245 planned operations on Thursday."