Patients 'made way' for Minogue

Kylie underwent surgery in Australia

A row has erupted over allegations that elderly cardiac patients were moved from their beds to make way for singer Kylie Minogue to have cancer surgery.

The 37-year-old, who underwent surgery last month, took over eight rooms in a ward at Melbourne's Cabrini Hospital.

The daughter of one patient told an Australian radio station that it had been hard to visit her unwell mother.

The hospital has "totally rejected" suggestions that security "interfered with the proper care of patients".

The patient's daughter, who identified herself as Mandy, said that she had difficulty accessing the ward after Minogue had been admitted to hospital.

'Criminal'

"Firstly, I had to get around a whole heap of black plastic that was floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall," she said.

"One of the security chaps that had a British accent said to me, 'you can't go there'."

I said, 'Yes I can, I've visited my mother here for a week, I'm certainly going to see her tonight."

"These guys escorted me back like a criminal," she added.

A spokesman for the Australian pop star was quoted on Sky News as saying the singer had not requested special treatment.

Minogue cancelled her first appearance at Glastonbury

The Health Services Union secretary in the state of Victoria, Jeff Jackson, said special measures had been implemented to protect Minogue from the media during her stay in hospital.

"But this was not the way to go," he told the Australian Associated Press.

"Critically ill patients who were awaiting surgery should not have been transferred unless their medical conditions required it," said Mr Jackson.

"Hospital visitors, staff directly caring for Kylie and other staff were subjected to over-zealous minders from Kylie's camp.

"Staff and visitors suffered difficulties and delays and it disrupted the flow of people through the hospital," he added.

Minogue, who cancelled part of her tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer, had a tumour removed at the hospital in Melbourne.

The chart-topping star is recovering from surgery in Australia and is said to be in "high spirits".