Patients in Winchester and surrounding areas do not have to wait as long to be seen in hospital, new figures show.
Patients in Winchester and surrounding areas do not have to wait as long to be seen in hospital, figures released last week show.
The Department of Health has stated that by December 2008, all patients who want it, and for whom it is clinically appropriate, will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to start of treatment.
The Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust has met these targets early according to an announcement by the Department of Health last week.
This means that patients have to wait no more than the required 18 week target from referral by their GP, to receiving treatment at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and the Andover War Memorial Hospital.
Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine, said: "This is excellent news. Huge credit must goto the team at the Royal Hampshire but also to the wider health community in the Winchester area who I know are united in their determination to provide local people with first-rate care.
"It is never easy working within challenging budgets and a culture of constant change but a steely focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for patients has paid dividends.”
Pictured; Steve Brine discusses plans for the 'new' RHCH with Trust Chief Executive, Martin Wakeley.