A retired voluntary worker will be among the first patients to take part in a new pilot scheme to cut waiting lists by offering operations abroad.

Velma Paterson, 74, of Royal Sovereign View, Eastbourne, is one of 15 patients who will have hip or knee ops in France as part of the scheme by Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Mrs Paterson, a mother of three, will travel to Hesdin, near Calais, at the end of the month for hip replacement surgery. She will remain there for two weeks for follow-up treatment, including physiotherapy.

The group will be driven to the hospital from home, through the Channel Tunnel.

Mrs Paterson said: "I was shocked and suprised when I got the telephone call.

"I couldn't really believe it but it was thoroughly explained to me and they told me I didn't have to do it. They told me very clearly what was involved."

Katey Edmundson of the District General said: "We have worked very closely with the Overseas Commission Team, which is part of the Department of Health, on this project.

"As the Government has given central funding for this treatment it is an excellent opportunity of choice for our patients. In the South East, overseas is sometimes nearer than some of our neighbouring trusts."

The current waiting time for patients needing hip or knee operations at the EDGH is between 12 and 15 months.

All the patients heading for France would have exceeded the 12-month waiting time by March this year.

A ruling from the European Court of Justice means patients facing a lengthy wait for non-emergency surgery can seek help from other EU countries.