Airedale Hospital is opening its theatres to the public this Saturday.

People will have the chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and have a go at performing various surgical techniques, including bone fixing and keyhole surgery.

There will also be the opportunity to scrub up, try on masks and gowns, see how patients are anaesthetised and enjoy a tour of two theatres that will be set-up as though in readiness for a real operation.

Staff will be on hand to offer advice to anyone considering a career as an operating department practitioner, nurse, anaesthetist or surgeon.

Bev Drake, a theatre nurse at Airedale NHS Trust, said: “The idea is to allow people to have a look behind the scenes, learn about what our staff do and see a real theatre, something they don’t usually have the opportunity to do.

“It also helps take some of the fear away if anyone has an operation planned, particularly children, as they can see the actual place where they will be coming to and meet the staff.

“We hope then that they will feel more relaxed about having their procedure.”

The open day runs from 11am-3pm.