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More than 8,000 patients have been dumped from nationwide hospital waiting lists over the past year, according to figures released to One News.
Doctors groups are appalled by the figures but some suggest the number of patients affected could even be higher than the statistics indicate.
The highest number of patients dropped from surgical waiting lists was in Canterbury where 2,400 patients have been sent back to their GPs.
Endometriosis sufferer Letitia Grubb, 15, is one of those who was assessed as needing urgent surgery.
"The pain gets so bad sometimes that I actually pass out."
But despite having maximum points for an operation, Canterbury District Health Board has pulled her off the waiting list and sent her back to GP care.
She is one of 2,400 Canterbury patients dropped off the surgical waiting list in the past year.
Those bumped from the waiting lists have already seen by a specialist and been told they need surgery in many cases urgently.
Canterbury's high number is followed by Counties Manukau with 1,400 while Otago has dropped over 700 patients, Bay of Plenty 630 and Waitemata over 550.
National's health spokesperson Tony Ryall says the situation is unacceptable.
"What's quite clear is that this is spiralling out of control, the government's got no answer to deal with the fact that so many thousands of people who need an operation are being culled from the waiting lists quietly every month."
College of Surgeons chairman Murray Pfieffer says his organisation is appalled.
"These are people who cannot afford private surgery and yet cannot access public surgery and I feel for those people."
There are also concerns that the latest figures may be conservative - a fear that even Health Minister Pete Hodgson agrees with.
"Even more than 8,000...perhaps."
But Hodgson says despite, many more are getting their surgery.
"Although it's hard for the 8,000 people and I'm not happy about it, you've got to say the system's mainly functioning when 106,700 can get their surgery in any one year."
Critics say more funding is needed to fix the situation.
