Waiting times for eye surgery could be slashed when a specialist £1 million hospital in Bradford opens its doors.

Although the Yorkshire Eye Hospital at Harrogate Road, Apperley Bridge, is an independent venture, privately funded by a team of NHS eye consultants from across the region, it is likely it will also treat hundreds of patients facing typical year-long waits for cataract surgery on the NHS.

Hospitals chiefs have already been in talks with NHS health commissioners in the district to make them aware of the new option which will be available to them.

Construction is still underway but it is expected that patients consultations will start in December, with the first surgery being carried out in January.

The hospital will provide a range of eye surgery, including cataract operations, which can be performed on a day case basis, using state-of-the-art equipment in the unit's two theatres.

Leeds-based consultant ophthalmologist, Bruce Noble, chairman of the new hospital, said it was hoped to carry out 10,000 cases a year, compared to the 2,500 cases a year carried out at Leeds General Infirmary.

"Our perception is that cataract operations are a quality of life issue," he said.

"What we will be able to do by putting all the diagnostic and treatment services here is to radically improve the quality of life for patients.

"You will be able to walk in and walk out again, treating it more like a dental surgery, which will help patients cope and take away the stress of the situation."

Mr Noble said he decided to go ahead with the venture after becoming frustrated with an "unresponsive" NHS, which he says has failed to meet the needs of patients.

"We have an ageing population and cataracts, glaucoma and diabetes are growing and in this country we really have not got on top of these numbers," he said.

Shaun Hallett, general manager of the hospital, who is pictured with Mr Noble, said the service would be inclusive, not exclusive, treating private and NHS patients to the same standard.

"We are working in partnership with the NHS," he said. "We are not saying to Bradford Royal Infirmary that we are better than you, we are saying that we are here and there is an opportunity for all our Yorkshire patients to be treated here.

"The interest from GPs has been encouraging. They see what we are offering is innovative and flexible and responsive to their needs, which reflect what the patients want.

"There will be different rates of payment, the business is robust enough to cope with these differences. An NHS patient will be able to receive this free at the point of delivery."