HOSPITAL drama fans interested in watching the real thing can do so on May 26.

East Lancashire surgeon Michael Timms, who pioneered a new technique to remove tonsils in 2000, is set to share his expertise on a live webcast transmission.

The website address has now been published as www.or-live.com/

blackburninfirmaryhospital/

1203

Internet users should click the "Live Webcast of Medical Procedures" box located in the top left corner of the Web page but must have "Real Player" to view the webcast.

This will be the first time the operation has been shown in this way in the UK, although a webcast was previously set up in America.

Traditional surgery cuts and pulls away the tonsils with scissors or a knife, then seals the blood vessels using temperatures of around 300 degrees which can burn other parts of the throat, too.

But the new treatment uses a cold saline solution which dissolves and sucks away the tonsil tissue at low temperatures.

Surgeons from across the world are expected to log on and will be able to ask Mr Timms questions throughout the procedure. The public will just be able to watch.