NHS targets to 'reduce waiting'

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The latest government targets for the NHS will aim to reduced waiting times and improve access to cancer treatment.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the targets, which come into force this week, also aimed to cut C.difficile rates and reduce energy consumption.

Health boards are being urged to ensure that from December 2011, the maximum wait for patients starting cancer treatment is 31 days.

Hospitals must also aim to reduce rates of C.diff by at least 30% by 2011.

The government has set a 12-week maximum wait for outpatients and inpatient or day case treatment from March 2010.

And boards have been asked to carry out at least 28,000 "inequalities targeted" heart checks.

'Progress made'

Ms Sturgeon said: "Ensuring patients get the best possible treatment, when and where they need it, underpins everything we do in the NHS in Scotland.

"We're constantly striving to improve healthcare in Scotland and these targets have a key role to play in helping health boards do just that."

Macmillan Cancer Support welcomed the targets to cut cancer treatment waiting times.

The charity's director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Elspeth Atkinson, said: "A great deal of progress has already been made to speed up the length of time patients in Scotland are waiting for treatment.

"We look forward to seeing how these proposals to cut waiting times further will be implemented."