A woman facing a painful nine-month wait for an operation travelled to Egypt for a cut price, fast-track solution.

And despite having to travel east just as war was breaking out in Iraq, Marianne McKeon says it was an absolutely wonderful and luxurious experience.

Operation souvenir - Marianne and Ron McKeon with a memento of their trip to Egypt following her hernia operation Picture: STEVE BRADING

Mrs McKeon, 51, was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia three years ago and put on various medications which did not work for her.

"I kept going back to see my GP who got in contact Colchester General Hospital for another test for which I waited nearly 12 months.

Last May she was told the hernia had got a lot bigger and she was put on the waiting list but says she was told she would not be seen until the beginning of this year.

"It was ridiculous. I was only having about two hours sleep a night.

"I didn't have a life because of the lack of sleep and couldn't even do basic housework.

"My husband, Ron, who is a housing officer with Colchester Council, had to virtually take over most of the work for my own part-time business."

Mrs McKeon, of Jessica Drive, Colchester, said she decided to have the operation done privately but was told it would cost about £7,000, which included the operation, tests to be done in London and three days in hospital.

"If anything had happened and I had to extend my stay in hospital it would cost £282 per night extra and that did not include any other tests or x-rays.

"We thought we would have to allocate at least £10,000 for this but that was too much."

She then went shopping around on the internet and found a company called Operations Abroad based in Manchester.

Soon after she was told it would be at least nine months, and possibly nearer 15 before she could have the op on the NHS in Britian.

Mrs McKeon accepted an offer to have it done in Egypt for £3,000 which included flights for herself and her husband, the operation and all tests needed, a three-day stay in hospital and ten days recuperation in a top hotel for both of them.

She is now faced with a six month recuperation at home but says already she is feels a lot better and is sleeping better.

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003