Patients that have had hip replacement surgery will be able to return home the day after treatment, thanks to a new surgical and rehabilitation programme.

Although the amount of time patients spend in hospital, following hip operations, has continuously reduced to an average of two or three days, the new programme which has been introduced at Eastbourne District General Hospital, means patients are now discharged quicker.

After surgery, health professionals give patients a tailored programme to aide their recovery. The programme involves a team of specialists which include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and those in occupational therapy jobs visiting the patient at home.

The first person to undergo the programme was Kim Pope, she was at home 24 hours after having the operation and was back exercising in the gym after six weeks. She told the Eastbourne Herald: "I am very impressed by the whole thing. When I told people I would only be in hospital for 24 hours, they said it was rubbish and I must have got it wrong.''

"I love going to the gym but didn't think I would be able to go back so soon after the operation, it is amazing," she said.

Andrew Skyrme the orthopaedic consultant surgeon that performed Mrs Pope surgery said: "We have been performing short stay hip replacement surgery for a while, but this new approach aims to get patients home as quickly as possible.''

"The programme involves a small team focused on a process tailored to suit the needs of each patient. The technologies and surgical techniques reduce the trauma of surgery, which mean patients can recover quicker."