Tanes Petsuwan, TAT's director in London, said medical tourism in Phuket would help the island attract more UK tourists and capture what is an emerging niche travel market.

"Over 714,489 British and Irish tourists visited Thailand last year, and visits by those seeking quality medical procedures could add significantly to that figure," he said.

Sharon Coyne, who visited Bangkok Hospital Phuket earlier this year for an eyelift procedure, attended the conference and praised the approach and skill of her surgeon. Her experience was so positive that she's now in the process of setting up a travel business called Far Away Beauty - working in partnership with Bangkok Hospital Phuket - for a September launch.

Medical tourism remains a minor market in the United Kingdom, but is steadily growing as British citizens discover significant cost-savings for treatments taken overseas.

Bangkok Hospital Phuket plans an initial focus on the most popular of these - plastic surgery and dental treatments, with a view to expanding procedures according to demand.

With a highly skilled team of surgeons, most having overseas qualifications, Bangkok Hospital Phuket is placed to welcome visitors requiring treatments ranging from facelifts, liposuction and nose augmentation to extensive dental work.

Most treatments only require an overnight stay in the hospital, leaving patients free to recuperate in Phuket's luxury hotels.