SHOCK figures show more people are waiting for orthopaedic surgery in Gwent than anywhere else in Wales.

Of the 205 patients in Wales who had waited more than 18 months for such surgery by the end of October, 173 - 84 per cent - are from Gwent.

Now an NHS ''troubleshooter' has been called in to help Gwent health bosses tackle the worsening problem of long waiting times.

In the first external review of its kind in the NHS in Wales, waiting times expert Professor Brian Edwards will report back to Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt by December 2003.

Patients have been sent to hospitals outside Gwent and even into England for operations, and arrangements have been made for others to be treated as NHS patients at the private St Joseph's Hospital in Newport. The reasons include surges in emergency medical admissions at the area's hospitals since the end of August, coupled with problems caused by a virulent stomach bug.

These forced cancellation of scores of operations and closed many surgical beds - worsening an already difficult situation caused by an underlying lack of capacity in orthopaedics.

They also wrecked efforts to keep up with the Assembly-set target achieved in July - that no-one in Wales should have been waiting more than 18 months for orthopaedic surgery. Since the end of July the official number of patients waiting longer than 18 months has crept up.

Professor Edwards's review has four aims: To provide the minister with early assurance that Gwent will, as soon as possible, achieve and sustain the position in orthopaedics where no patient will wait over 18 month for inpatient or daycare treatment, and work towards reducing the outpatient wait to 18 months.

To support Gwent in identifying areas of development and good practice to achieve its wider targets as soon as possible this financial year.

To provide a report with conclusions and recommendations as to position of Gwent in relation to both short and long-term waiting times targets.

To inform the work of the All-Wales Orthopaedic Group.

Professor Edwards has extensive experience as a top-line health manager. Currently director of strategy and development at the ATM Consulting Group, he has been a chief executive and regional general manager of regional health authorities in England, and a member of the NHS Executive Board.

Have you been waiting more than 18 months for orthopaedic surgery? Contact the Argus newsdesk - 01633 777226 or 777219 or e-mail newsdesk@gwent-wales.co.uk