50pc rise in hospital ops

Kidderminster Hospital's treatment centre could be expanded following an increase of around 50 per cent in the number of operations performed there since it first opened.

Around 2,000 people, including outpatients, have undergone surgery at Kidderminster Hospital's Independent Sector Treatment Centre during the past 12 months, it was announced today.

The year before 1,720 were carried out.

Centre manager Anne Males said the number of joint operations had risen by around 100 every year.

The service run by Interhealth, which opened in 2005, uses one operating theatre. The number of beds for its patients is likely to be increased to 10 or 12 by next year to cater for the increase in the number of operations.

Mrs Males said today: "It is very good news. I don't think a lot of people realise what goes on in their local hospital. We are increasing our operations every year. We do hip and knee joints as well as all orthopaedics."

Since Kidderminster hospital was downgraded several years ago, the Treatment Centre at the hospital has been dealing with more and more day-case and elective surgery cases.

Because of this fewer operations are now cancelled at Worcestershire Royal Hospital at Worcester and at the Alexandra Hospital at Redditch.

The Kidderminster Treatment Centre deals with elective operations for such things as vasectomies, varicose veins, hernia repairs, cataracts and orthopaedic operations.

MP Dr Richard Taylor, said that he had recently visited the unit and was "impressed with the organisation and efficiency."