The government wants nurses to be trained as surgeons in order to help reduce hospital waiting lists.

John Reid is under pressure to meet a government pledge that no one will wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment from GP referral by 2008.

Under the health secretary's plans, operations such as hernia repair, vasectomies and arthroscopies will be performed by surgical care practitioners - nurses, physiotherapists and operating department assistants - after two years of training.