WAITING for a hip operation or hernia treatment at the Countess of Chester can be a painful experience, according to a new survey.

The Countess has been highlighted for its lengthy waiting patient times in a survey compiled by health service website Dr Foster - www.drfoster.co.uk - and The Times.

The latest survey comes after The Countess maintained its three-star status in a hotel-style national league table of healthcare excellence.

The hospital is currently taking part in a public consultation in a bid to gain foundation trust status which would enable it to gain tighter control of its budget and priorities.

Data, collected for The Times by the health analysis company Dr Foster show that, despite strong central control of the NHS and a stream of directives, the postcode lottery prevails.

With regard to hip replacements, The Count-ess of Chester is said to have one of the longest waiting times in Britain.

Those hospitals in the high category - including the Countess - have an average wait of 376 days, whereas those in the low category have a waiting time of 136 days.

The wait for hernia treatment at The Count-ess of Chester is also said to be lengthy.

Most abdominal hernias (80-85%) are repaired with open surgery. Unless the hernia is strangulated or linked in with another, serious conditions, waiting a matter of months will not effect everyday life greatly, and so there are long waiting times for the operation.

But there are vast differences between NHS trusts; those in the high category - including the Countess - have an average wait of 215 days, whereas those hospitals in the low category have a waiting time of 45 days

The long waiting times at the Chester hospital have been attacked by Eddisbury's Tory MP Stephen O'Brien.

He said: 'No doubt everyone in my constituency and further afield rely upon the Countess of Chester Hospital.

'I was disappointed to see the Countess amongst hospitals nationally with the highest waiting times for hip replacements and hernia treatments.

'A number of constituents have written to me over recent times who have been very disappointed with the length of time they have had to wait before they can get their hip replaced.

'Clearly, the Countess will want to explain why this is so and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times', Mr O'Brien added.

Carole Spencer, director of planning and development for The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust, said: 'The waiting times for both hip replacement and hernia repair procedures have reduced significantly since the reference period (to March 2002) used by Dr Foster in compiling their guide.

'This has been due to a combination of additional surgeons and extra operating lists. The Trust's orthopaedic outreach team has developed a transitional care scheme with a local nursing rehabilitation home to reduce patients' length of stay in hospital following hip replacement.

'We have also had an agreement with another NHS hospital, which has been able to undertake additional hip replacements.

'By the end of November 2003, nobody will be waiting more than 270 days (nine months) for either procedure to be undertaken routinely and this achieves the Government's standard targets for waiting times.'

Chester MP Christine Russell says The Count-ess is working hard to reduce waiting times.

'Historically, there has been a problem regarding hospital waiting times throughout the country. One, because there has been a shortage of trained orthopaedic surgeons and we have a growing, ageing population. As a result, the demand for knee operations and hip replacements has risen dramatically,' she said.

'I have certainly not had a constituent contact me over the last year about orthopaedic services at The Countess. I have learnt that these statistics (Dr Foster) are about 18 months out of date.

'In the intervening period, The Countess has employed more orthopaedic surgeons and has improved rehabilitation services for patients.

'If a patient has knee or hip surgery at The Countess now, they will only be staying there for a couple of days. This frees up beds so more patients can be treated.'