A Mobile operating theatre has been brought to Tewkesbury

"A Mobile operating theatre has been brought to Tewkesbury.In a UK first the NHS has teamed up with the independent sector in Gloucestershire while the town's main hospital theatre is refurbished throughout January.

The mobile unit is the result of a partnership deal between Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Vanguard Healthcare.

Knee surgery, cataracts, hand surgery, urology and pain management procedures will all be carried out at the unit in the grounds of the hospital.

Up to 20 patients will be treated each day in the unit, which expands hydraulically to 40ft by 30ft to house an admissions suite, anaesthetic room, full operating theatre and recovery unit.

The unit will contain all the equipment found in Tewkesbury's day surgery unit and additional x-ray machinery.

All operations will be carried out by Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust medical staff.

Patient's appointments will be managed as though they were being seen in the hospital.

The mobile unit will be on the hospital site in Barton Road for six weeks while the permanent operating theatre has air conditioning equipment upgraded.

Health bosses say the mobile unit will ensure patients in Tewkesbury receive surgery close to home instead of travelling to Cheltenham and Gloucester during the refurbishment.

Managers are also keen not to fall behind with surgery waiting times as they continue to clear a backlog left over from cancellations during last summer's floods."