Thousands of North-East NHS patients are to have their operations in the private sector at no extra cost, thanks to a new deal struck by the Government

. Patients facing long waits for hip and knee operations from York to Newcastle will be asked if they are prepared to have their operations at a private Nuffield hospital near to them.

The Government estimates that each strategic health authority area will nominate around 880 patients to have surgery, making a total of 2,640 in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

Under the contract Nuffield Hospitals and Capio Healthcare UK will take on about 25,000 hip, knee and other operations for the NHS during the current financial year.

Within weeks the first patients will have their operations in one of 50 private hospitals across England.

In the North-East and North Yorkshire the Nuffield hospitals are based at Newcastle, Stockton, Harrogate and York.

Alison Hyde, spokeswoman for County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority said: "We haven't actually had the supplier confirmed but we understand it will be the Nuffield in Stockton. The process is that primary care trusts are being asked to identify patients who have been waiting a long time for their treatment."

Under the scheme the Nuffield hospital will notify the local health authority what capacity for NHS patients is available for the coming month.

"Then patients will be approached and be asked if they want to have their operation at the Nuffield," she added.

Ms Hyde stressed that the operations in the private sector would be in addition to patients being treated at the three acute hospital trusts within County Durham and Tees Valley.

"We regard this is a win-win situation. More of our patients are going to be treated more quickly and because it comes from central funds it is not going to put our budget up," she added.

Health Secretary Dr John Reid said tough negotiation with the private sector had helped drive down costs.

"I am determined that no NHS patient should wait in pain where we can negotiate cost-effective agreements to use capacity already available in the independent sector in this country."