PATIENTS from East Kent who have been waiting a long time for routine operations, could soon be going to the Continent for them. Major joint replacements, hernias, cataracts and possibly prostate and tonsil operations are the procedures likely to be treated abroad.

The government has set up a pilot scheme involving East Kent, Portsmouth, West Sussex and East Surrey. Patients from these areas will be sent abroad for treatment until the end of March. Health officials in those areas will then send a report to Health Secretary Alan Milburn containing their response to the scheme and recommendations for the future. Whether the practice continues depends on many issues, including money.

Peter Huntley, chief executive of Channel Primary Care Group in Dover, is co-ordinating the pilot in all areas. He stressed that this action was being taken purely as a result of a ruling from the European Court of Justice, which said that people in the UK waiting an unreasonable length of time for treatment had the right to seek health care in Europe.

"There is no new NHS money to pay for the operations abroad," he said. "As a result of the ruling we now have to offer patients the option of going abroad and complying with that is what this pilot is about."

Mr Huntley said it was possible the first East Kent patients could go abroad before Christmas, but it was expected the bulk of the operations would take place between the New Year and Easter. He said patients who could benefit would be contacted and offered an operation in France or Germany.

"The patient has a choice and does not have to take the option of going abroad," Mr Huntley said. "Refusing will not disadvantage them. Part of the pilot is to see how best we can get patients to hospitals abroad. Initially the operations will take place in France or Germany, but many other European countries have expressed an interest in helping."

Mr Huntley stressed that the pilot would not take money out of the local health economy.