PATIENTS are being offered free fitness tests before they go under the knife at Frenchay and Southmead hospitals.

North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, has two new cardiopulmonary exercise machines which can accurately assess people’s health before they undergo surgery.

The new technology will give patients the clearest possible readings of their fitness levels so they can judge the risks they face from an operation.

Senior registrar in anaesthetics, Dr Steve Tolchard, said the equipment will also be used post-surgery to help assess patients’ recovery.

He said: "This sort of assessment equipment is widely used across the US and is now starting to arrive in this country.

"It enables us to have a much better idea of just how fit for surgery a patient is so they can make an informed decision ahead of their operation.

"Surgical teams will also be able to prepare better for higher risk patients and later see how they are recovering afterwards."

The machines were bought with £30,000 donated by the Friends of Frenchay Hospital as well as a research grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).