All spare orthopaedic capacity in the private sector has been booked over the next six months at a discounted rate in an effort to cut waiting lists.

The Scottish Executive said 500 patients who have been waiting for up to a year would be offered treatment through the initiative.

These patients will be able to get the operations they need at the earliest available opportunity and then get back to living their normal lives

Malcolm Chisholm Health Minister

The move follows the publication of figures which revealed that hospital waiting lists had increased by more than 10% north of the border.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said a "pragmatic" approach was being taken to cutting waiting times.

"We have secured capacity within the private hospitals over a sustained period so that we can drive down orthopaedic waiting times and keep them down," he said.

"The most important aspect here is that these patients will be able to get the operations they need at the earliest available opportunity and then get back to living their normal lives."

The private hospitals involved include Ross Hall and Nuffield in Glasgow, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Abbey Ayr, Abbey Stirling and Albyn in Aberdeen.

Waiting list

NHS boards and trusts will offer treatment to patients who have been waiting longest.

Statistics released last month by the Scottish Executive showed that the waiting list had risen to just under 80,000 people in the three months to the end of June.

That figure rose by almost 8,000 from the end of March - although it was down 3,543 from the end of June last year.

The number of patients having to wait more than nine months for treatment also increased, from 3,582 to 3,842.

Mr Chisholm admitted he was disappointed with the figures and promised action.