Oh, and if you are hoping to have your elective operation funded by the NHS in the private sector, just ask yourself who will operate.

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NHS. First, it is likely to boost hospital activity, which is vital if the government is to meet its new target for cutting the maximum all-in waiting time for an elective operation to 18 weeks by 2008.

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More than half of these were emergency Caesareans, but despite this experts have been calling for measures to reduce numbers of elective Caesareans, warning it is a major operation.

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In 2001, patients requiring elective surgery could wait as long as 18 months for an operation.

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