A CLYDEBANK hospital which was bought from a private firm to cut NHS queues has seen a rise in the number of patients being treated.
The Golden Jubilee Hospital performed 45% of all hip and knee replacements in the West of Scotland last year.
Surgeons at the hospital also carried out 20% of the country's orthopaedic procedures.
The figures were released during the hospital's annual review meeting this week.
It follows a number of other successes for the hospital, which is Scotland's National Waiting Times Centre.
The Golden Jubilee was the first hospital to introduce an enhanced recovery programme, allowing patients undergoing hip and knee replacement to be back on their feet on the same day as surgery.
This led to the hospital having the lowest length of stay for joint replacement patients. Staff are now working to help other Scottish hospitals adopt the approach.
The Golden Jubilee's team also pioneered Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery (CAOS) – a technique that increases the surgeon's accuracy in positioning an implant right down to the last millimetre.
Jill Young, Chief Executive of the hospital's NHS board, said: "I am delighted that our orthopaedic programme continues to go from strength to strength.
"Not only are we undertaking more joint operations than any other hospital in Scotland, but we are specialising in more complex work that can only benefit the many patients who require this type of surgery."
The hospital also met waiting time targets for all heart and lung patients, exceeding the activity target by 7.5%.
Figures show more than 23,000 heart and lung procedures were carried out.
Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP, said: "This review gives myself and the public an opportunity to hear about the improvements and achievements being delivered to patients across Scotland.
"I am particularly impressed with the Waiting Times Centre's record on hip and knee surgery over the last year."
caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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