SOUTHAMPTON patients with broken hips are being cared for at the double thanks to a high-speed surgery service.

For six-months since the launch of the city's fast-track unit, more than half of patients with broken hips are operated on within 24 hours. Since January the specialist four-bed unit at Southampton General Hospital has seen more than 250 patients.

It was launched with the aim of putting patients with broken hips back on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

Eighty one per cent of hip fracture patients now have their surgery within 48 hours.

Phil Chapman Sheath, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: "Before the unit was opened, patients had to wait several days before undergoing surgery. Now we are operating on them much sooner, which helps them to make a faster recovery and return home."

For the full story see today's Southern Daily Echo.