Patients facing lengthy waits for surgery on the NHS are increasingly travelling abroad and paying for their own treatment at clinics in Europe.

Some people requiring hip and knee replacements have told STV News they feel forced to spend their savings and are taking on debt to go overseas for private operations.

One clinic in Lithuania says they are seeing an average of ten patients from Scotland every month.

The Scottish Government says it is working to address the waiting list backlog.

Eleanor Stafford from Largs never thought one day she would be looking forward to an operation or that it would be in Lithuania.

The 69-year-old has waited 16 months for a hip replacement and, with no date in sight, will fly out in two weeks time for private surgery that will cost her £8,000.

Eleanor told STV News: “Scary is too big a word.

“Yes, I am a bit apprehensive but to me, it makes me feel that after I have had the operation and some recovery period, I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

“I feel my quality of life is very poor. I do not do anything or go anywhere. I do not sleep well as the pain is constant.

“If money were no object, I would have thought about going private here but the difference in cost is phenomenal.

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