A weekend trip to the theatre has taken on new meaning as Oxford's hospitals open their doors for Saturday surgery.

Patients who have waited a long time for operations, or have had treatment delayed because of bed closures, will be admitted to the Radcliffe Infirmary and the John Radcliffe for weekend sessions.

Managers at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust hope they will be able to clear some of the waiting list backlog, which currently has nearly 9,000 patients.

Fiona Dalton, divisional director for surgery, said: "It's a good way of getting patients treated using theatres that aren't being used over the weekend.

"It's about helping patients who haven't had a good deal from us. Weekends are often more convenient for them because their families can bring them in and look after them.

"Obviously we pay the staff extra to come in on Saturdays and it's done on a volunteer basis. The surgeons are happy with the scheme."

Weekend surgery at the RI will centre on ear, nose and throat, and opthalmology operations, like cataracts and tonsillectomies.

JR patients will be admitted for general surgery.

Miss Dalton said: "The good thing is that we can increase or decrease weekend working depending on what's happening with the waiting lists.

"All hospitals are starting to realise that the facilities are too expensive to use just five days a week."

Over the past few years, the trust has suffered severe problems with cancelled operations.

In May, 286 patients were told on the day of admission that their surgery had to be postponed.