plans for more medical recruitment drives in Europe have been confirmed by North-East hospitals as the first patients in the region are seen by a German "flying doctor".

The Government is desperate to bring down waiting lists by flying in teams of surgeons from Germany, Italy and Belgium.

South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, is one of the first to benefit from the scheme.

At the same time, the doctor in charge of persuading German consultants to work in the North-East has announ-ced details of more "shopping trips" to Europe.

Up to 240 day case patients from the Tyne and Wear area are due to be operated on by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ulrich Boenisch, from Dusseldorf.

For the past two weeks Dr Boenisch has been flying in to hold weekend clinics at the Tyneside hospital before returning to Germany.

On September 6, he is due to start operating on patients, supported by local nursing and operating theatre staff.

More visits by foreign surgeons are planned around the UK in September.

David Shilton, nursing director at South Tyneside hospital, said Dr Boesnisch's English was very good and things were going smoothly.

A researcher from Liverpool University's linguistics department is monitoring the scheme. Dr Peter Royle, medical director at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, is leading the Department of Health's recruitment programme in Germany.

Since an exploratory trip to Berlin earlier this year, at least ten German consultants had attended interviews at North-East hospitals, said Dr Royle.

A German consultant an-aesthetist has also been shortlisted at Dr Royle's own trust.

Two German GPs and a Swiss GP have visited Sunderland and are planning return trips to formalise contracts.