A pioneering hospital outreach centre in the Fens has just treated its 100th patient.

Surgeons from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital began offering minor surgery to patients at Littleport's St George's Medical Centre in February.

The new service saves those living on the borders of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk a round trip of 50 miles or more to visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, at King's Lynn.

The medical centre, which also houses a large GP practice, now has a purpose-built operating theatre, run by QEH consultant surgeons Harald Bausbacher and Jonathan Easterbrook.

Minor surgical procedures which are now available on the Parsons Lane site include the removal of cysts, so-called 'lumps and bumps' and skin lesions, vasectomies, treatment for in-growing toenails and for haemorrhoids, and general biopsies.

Stephen Lambert, operating theatre practitioner at the QEH, said: 'The service has proved to be very popular with the patients.

'They like the facility and they like having this type of service very close to home.

'Since we started here the number of patients has been steadily increasing as the service becomes more widely known.

'For the past few weeks it's been extremely busy.'

Surgeries take place every Wednesday afternoon, except on the first Wednesday of the month, when a morning list also operates.

The 100th patient, who was treated recently, had an operation to remove skin tags.