Cape Town hospital awaits NHS patients

UK heart patients could end up in Cape Town, South Africa

Hospitals in South Africa are ready to take patients waiting for heart surgery in the West Midlands and treat them at half the price of the NHS.

The plan has come from two West Midlands public health experts.

Chris Spencer-Jones from Dudley Health Authority and Dr Andrew Rouse, from Birmingham Health Authority, say the first operations could go ahead within seven weeks.

One hospital identified in Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, is half empty because many in the country cannot afford health care.

Chris Spencer-Jones: "Language is important"

Mr Spencer-Jones said: "Heart surgery has a very high reputation in South Africa.

"The other thing to say is that they speak English and for some patients in such circumstances that's very important."

Dr Malcolm Naharaj, speaking to the BBC from Groote Schuur Hospital, said: "We've got specially upgraded ward facilities and our surgeons are standing by.

"We've got some of the best equipment in the world to be doing the necessary investigations so we can do it."

Mr Spencer-Jones and Dr Rouse have put forward the plan to cut waiting lists and suggest treatment for patients who might otherwise die.

Les Edlin, a heart surgery patient from Evesham, who has already been treated in South Africa, said: "I put everything I owned on the roulette wheel of the fame of the South African medical services.

"I went to the country and said 'here I am, help me' and within 72 hours I felt 20 years younger."