A new private hospital near Bath has begun treating its first NHS patients.

The CircleBath hospital which has been open for six months, treats an average of 150 people a day but they are mostly private patients. However, a growing number of NHS patients are receiving treatment at the £30 million hospital after using the health service's Choose and Book system.

A range of facilities are available through the Choose and Book system including surgical and treatment options as well as gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedic appointments. A recent survey revealed 98 per cent of patients said they would be happy to recommend the hospital to family or friends with many believing the hospitals customer care extends to the catering.

The current surge in the number of patients and the popularity of the facility is likely to cause a steady increase in the number of patients being treated there, which could see the creation of more health professional positions such as occupational therapy jobs.

Circle partner Mark Aichroth is part of the hospital's management team. He told The Bath Chronicle: "A patient's right to choose where they undertake treatment is extremely important and there are many different factors to consider, including post operative recover time. CircleBath is extremely pleased to be working with the NHS to offer a comprehensive range of services that meet the needs of the surrounding communities."