Alarming new figures show nearly 22,000 elective surgeries were cancelled last year with the figures expected to rise again this year.

The Australian Medical Association WA President Mark Duncan-Smith told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live a lack of beds and underfunding is to blame.

“It’s a terrible figure… this has been developing over the last decade,” said Dr Duncan-Smith.

“Unfortunately the public hospital system in western Australia quite simply doesn’t have enough capacity.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Dr Duncan-Smith is calling on the government to do more