'Lorry hospital' to cut waiting lists

The "Visiting Hospital" can carry our surgical procedures

An "instant" hospital designed to help cut NHS waiting lists is being launched in Cambridgeshire next week.

The £2m unit, believed to be the first of its kind, has an anaesthetic suite, operating theatre, recovery ward and four experienced nurses.

The "Visiting Hospital" will go into service with the NHS at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire next Thursday.

Two of the hospital's own theatres will be undergoing conversion work while the mobile unit is in place.

The £2m unit is believed to be the first of its kind

Douglas Pattisson, chief executive of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said: "One of the most important things to patients is not having their operation cancelled.

"The Visiting Hospital means we can carry out surgical procedures while two of our permanent theatres are out of action without taking staff from other critical areas."

The mobile unit, developed by Vanguard Healthcare of Bristol, is divided into two sections which are transported to their destination by lorry.

It can be fully operational within two hours.

The company said the unit has been designed to help NHS managers reduce surgery waiting times.

Gary King, Vanguard's managing director, said: "The key feature is that Visiting Hospitals can relocate at a day's notice to any hospital, health centre or GP surgery with a large enough car park."