A team of surgeons from South Africa will jet into the North West to carry out more than 800 cataract operations.

Operation Cataract is intended to help catch up after the recent Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Cumbria.

The team of 40, including eight consultant surgeons, will arrive in October for four weeks, to reduce waiting lists.

It follows a scheme where teams of Spanish doctors were drafted into the region to relieve NHS staff shortages.

This one-off initiative will provide a significant reduction in waiting times that is sustainable long term

Ian Cumming, Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust

Patients from Lancaster, Morecambe and south Cumbria will benefit from accelerated drive to carry out operations.

The initiative was set up after Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust secured funding from the government's Overseas Clinical Team.

Ian Cumming, the trust's chief executive, said: "A complete package of care will be provided for all patients that participate in this initiative to avoid disrupting normal working patterns."

Medical equipment, including extra operating gear and microscopes, has been hired for the initiative, which starts on 17 October.

Some members of the scheme - organised in partnership with global private health provider Netcare - will remain in Lancaster after it ends to deal with post-operative care.

'Worthwhile' initiative

Mr Cumming said the trust had secured funding for a variety of reasons, most importantly because of the difference in waiting times in different parts of the region.

He said: "This one-off initiative will provide a significant reduction in waiting times that is sustainable long term.

"In addition, the trust is keen to catch up as soon as possible on work that has been delayed as a result of the trust responding to the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Barrow-in-Furness.

"I firmly believe that this will be worthwhile, as many people living in north Lancashire and south Cumbria are currently waiting far too long for their sight to be restored."