A PATIENT is worried that his surgeon's service in the Royal Medical Corps will mean his knee operation is delayed until the end of the year.

The 55-year-old father -of-two from Breightmet -- who does not want to be named -- was told in January that he would have a six month wait before he could have a knee operation at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But now the foundry moulder was informed that he may have to wait until the end of the year for the operation, as consultant orthopaedic surgeon Gordon Shepherd is to spend three months running operating theatres on behalf of the Royal Medical Corps out of the country.

Mr Shepherd is among a handful of doctors who have been called up for compulsory active service.

The patient's wife, a sales executive said: "I read with interest the article in the Bolton Evening News on Mr Shepherd being sent out to Afghanistan.

"My husband is waiting for an orthopedic operation and was told in January this year that the waiting list was only six months. He telephoned last week to see how far down the list he was and was told 'I cannot give you a date

now as Mr Shepherd is going to Afghanistan next week, we haven't yet got a replacement so you will be looking at least to the end of the year.'"

She added that her husband is limping with the pain in his knee, as two bones are rubbing against each other where the cartilage has worn away. She said they had been looking forward to the operation taking place in June as they have booked a July holiday in Corfu.

She said: "Maybe there is another reason, not connected with Mr Shepherd as to why the waiting time has changed, but if there is I don't know what it is."

A spokesman for the Royal Bolton Hospital said they were getting a locum surgeon to cover for Mr Shepherd.

She added that she could not comment on the individual case.

A PATIENT is worried that his surgeon's service in the Royal Medical Corps will mean his knee operation is delayed until the end of the year.

The 55-year-old father of two from Breightmet -- who does not want to be named -- was told in January that he would have a six month wait before he could have a knee operation at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But now the foundry moulder was informed that he may have to wait until the end of the year for the operation, as consultant orthopaedic surgeon Gordon Shepherd is to spend three months running operating theatres on behalf of the Royal Medical Corps out of the country.

Mr Shepherd is among a handful of doctors who have been called up for compulsory active service.

The patient's wife, a sales executive said: "I read with interest the article in the Bolton Evening News on Mr Shepherd being sent out to Afghanistan.

"My husband is waiting for an orthopedic operation and was told in January this year that the waiting list was only six months. He telephoned last week to see how far down the list he was and was told 'I cannot give you a date now as Mr Shepherd is going to Afghanistan next week, we haven't yet got a replacement so you will be looking at least to the end of the year.'"

She added that her husband is limping with the pain in his knee, as two bones are rubbing against each other where the cartilage has worn away. She said they had been looking forward to the operation taking place in June as they have booked a July holiday in Corfu.

She said: "Maybe there is another reason, not connected with Mr Shepherd as to why the waiting time has changed, but if there is I don't know what it is."

A spokesman for the Royal Bolton Hospital said they were getting a locum surgeon to cover for Mr Shepherd.

She added that she could not comment on the individual case.

A PATIENT is worried that his surgeon's service in the Royal Medica

1l Corps will mean his knee operation is delayed until the end of the year.

The 55-year-old father of two from Breightmet -- who does not want to be named -- was told in January that he would have a six month wait before he could have a knee operation at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

But now the foundry moulder was informed that he may have to wait until the end of the year for the operation, as consultant orthopaedic surgeon Gordon Shepherd is to spend three months running operating theatres on behalf of the Royal Medical Corps out of the country.

Mr Shepherd is among a handful of doctors who have been called up for compulsory active service.

The patient's wife, a sales executive said: "I read with interest the article in the Bolton Evening News on Mr Shepherd being sent out to Afghanistan.

"My husband is waiting for an orthopedic operation and was told in January this year that the waiting list was only six months. He telephoned last week to see how far down the list he was and was told 'I cannot give you a date now as Mr Shepherd is going to Afghanistan next week, we haven't yet got a replacement so you will be looking at least to the end of the year.'"

She added that her husband is limping with the pain in his knee, as two bones are rubbing against each other where the cartilage has worn away. She said they had been looking forward to the operation taking place in June as they have booked a July holiday in Corfu.

She said: "Maybe there is another reason, not connected with Mr Shepherd as to why the waiting time has changed, but if there is I don't know what it is."

A spokesman for the Royal Bolton Hospital said they were getting a locum surgeon to cover for Mr Shepherd.

She added that she could not comment on the individual case.