This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Shorter waiting times for heart patients
15/12/2004
Heart patients across Scotland will benefit from much shorter waiting times.
The new target means no-one will wait more than 16 weeks for cardiac intervention from seeing their GP through referral to a rapid access chest pain clinic or its equivalent.
It cuts 10 weeks from the current target and is significantly shorter than anywhere else in the UK.
Speaking on a visit to the rapid access chest pain clinic at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"We have made great progress in recent years by concentrating on Scotland's three main killers - heart disease, cancer and stroke.
"But we have got to keep that up and that is exactly what this will do - in driving down waits and ensuring patients get treatment they need."
The new target will be brought in by end of 2007. Mr Kerr was speaking ahead of a major announcement Parliament this afternoon (Wed) on waiting and new investment.