A MAGISTRATE is threatening to stage a sit-in at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital in protest over his long wait for a vital operation.

Newport justice of the peace Bob Effingham, who desperately needs a joint replacement in his right knee and recently discovered he also needs a hip replacement, is in constant pain.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen, but it has come to the stage where I have got to do something. It's not just me, there are hundreds of people in this position."

Arthritis sufferer Mr Effingham, 65, of Goldcliff, moved down from Scotland four years ago.

He has been waiting 20 months for the operation and still does not have a date.

Mr Effingham said he was initially told there was a 95- week wait to see a consultant.

He began writing to various people, including the health authority, and was eventually seen in January after agreeing to be transferred to a new consultant's list.

Mr Effingham discovered he now also needs a hip replacement and he is convinced this is because of the delay in treating his knee.

"My right leg is two inches shorter than the left one. The X-ray showed that the hip has completely gone. The consultant told me they would have to do the hip first and I would then have to wait three or four months for the knee."

He intends to speak to his consultant next week before deciding whether to go ahead with his threatened sit-in.

"The pain is terrible. I take tablets, and two weeks ago I had to go on something stronger," he said.

"It is difficult to sit on the bench, it is very uncomfortable, and I can't drive and have to rely on my wife."

But Mr Effingham does not believe additional money for the NHS is the only answer to the waiting-list problems.

He said: "The Royal Gwent has an awful lot of emergency cases that have to be dealt with and they take up orthopaedic beds - I think they should be separate."

He contacted his hospital in Scotland, just out of curiosity, and was told the waiting-time there was up to a year.