Surgeon Harry Belcher is posting videos of his operations on YouTube.

The consultant has posted five short films on the website showing details of hand operations.

Mr Belcher, who works at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, said: "I film the surgery in my theatre. My patients are aware they are being filmed and no confidentiality is broken.

"Some people think it is weird but I do it for information reasons. My patients can look up their surgery on the web and know what they are letting themselves in for.

"I originally put the images on my own website and they were mainly aimed as a training material for junior doctors but then it quickly became apparent that patients were interested as well.

"I put them up on You Tube and it has generated quite a lot of hits. The images are quite details so if you don't like images of operations it would be better to avoid them.

"However I am aware that some people are genuinely keen to learn more and so these can help. I've already had patient groups get in contact to find out more.

"The main reason for choosing YouTube is because it is specifically designed for handling video with mechanisms to protect copyright / intellectual property and is easily accessible because it is so well known.

"YouTube is now used by people as a serious medium of communication and I felt it important to make some good quality material available."

The videos include footage of an operation to treat rheumatoid arthritis on a thumb.

Hospital chief executive Sharon Kearns said: "It is no secret that Harry is a leading hand surgeon and we are very proud to be offering the best in specialist healthcare to the people of not only East Grinstead but the whole of South East England.

"The videos that Harry has posted on YouTube are a useful teaching resource but importantly they also demonstrate transparency and confidence in his and the hospital's work."

Mr Belcher has plans to add more operations on the site in the future.

The ones he has had posted have had hundreds of hits and can be found under the name harrythehand (crct) at www.youtube.co.uk

Alternatively, to view one via our website, click here