A government initiative to cut waiting lists has been setback by the decision of German surgeons to return home without completing a single operation.

Germedic, which represents a number of German hospitals, was planning to fly in surgical teams for a week every month in order to carry out four to six operations a day. But it has withdrawn because it believes the NHS could not cope with the extra administration.

The Department of Health claims the scheme is progressing and staff from France, Germany, Italy and South Africa have all been recruited.