A hospital has opened its own mobile ward and operating theatre in a bid to cut lengthy waiting lists for surgery.

The new unit at Southmead Hospital in Bristol has its own nursing staff but uses surgeons from the hospital.

Staff hope to complete an extra 60 operations a week through the new facility.

The unit has been hired by the hospital at a monthly cost of �100,000, initially for three months with a further 90-day option.

Hospital surgeons will be used

Surgeon Paul Lear said: "I've been very impressed with the amount of work we've managed to get through.

"The patients have come through much more quickly. The operating team is the same as in the main hospital, the only difference is we feel slightly more compact.

"I would say we have an obligation to get our patients through and it's so difficult to get them into the hospital at the moment.

"Winter is coming and the number of emergencies is greater.

"It's part of our contact to our patients to honour the dates given to them for their surgery."