Long waiting lists for operations on the NHS, and the high cost of going private in this country, are leading growing numbers of Britons to head abroad for surgery. Sky's Alex Crawford reports from Mumbai.

Sun, sand and surgery with plenty of savings. The combination is making India a global health destination; Wanda Wheeler has come to Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai, India for Hip surgery at a fraction of the cost back home and with no waiting time.

Wanda: I reached a point where I couldn't wait any longer for this operation and I was going to have to wait if I went to the UK and the cost would be 20,000 GBP She's already had a hip replacement 18 months ago in Tenereef. Now her right hip needs work

She chose to travel thousands of miles to India instead. The cost just over 4000 GBP for a ten day stay. Here at the Wockhardt Hospital, they have a toll free number for UK patients with queries and an all inclusive package from organizing visas to flights; special menus for western palates and even a holiday afterwards.

Many of the doctors here are not only on top of their field but in Wanda's case her surgeon did much of his training in Britain. Dr. Kaushal Malhan spent seven years working in Newcastle and in the West Midlands where he learned the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing technique. It removes the knee to cut away most of the hipbone instead inserting a metal ball. He's now pioneering the technique in India.

We look after not just the patient but also the companion because they need to kill time here, as long as the patient is here. So we provide all the services like in a hotel - laundry, a special food menu,. there is a British menu. The room is equipped with high speed internet with a computer so that they can surf the net. There's a colour television with all the cable channels and a DVD player. We just want them to feel at home. Says Pradeep Thukral, Head - International Business, Wockhardt Hospitals Group

Just three days after her surgery, Wanda's already having an intensive physiotherapy session and is putting her new hip joint to practice, prior to moving in to a hotel for relaxing before she flies back home.

Many of the hospitals in India including this one have approached the NHS about outsourcing the treatment of patients to India but the ten hour flight seemed too long.

But desperate patients don't seem to think so; specially when they combine having a surgery with enjoying a few days of good weather to recuperate.

A few days after surgery.. and the British patients are enjoying the sunshine. With the money they have saved Catherine & her husband Dany will be able to have a second holiday in a few week's time in Egypt.

I'm glad I came, I feel confident ; money well spent and particularly the surgeon also, he explained everything in detail and now I feel I've been given a new life. We are very pleased and very grateful to this hospital. Says Wanda

Foreign patients like Wanda and Catherine are actively being courted by Indian hospitals with the blessing of the Indian government. It's a trend, that the authorities hope will grow and eventually replicate the success of the country's software sector. Alex Crowford, Sky News, Mumbai