PATIENTS are having shorter waits for scans and X-rays after the radiology team at Worcestershire's hospitals hit demanding national waiting time targets more than three months ahead of schedule.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's radiology directorate says it has met all the targets at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the Alexandra in Redditch and Kidderminster.

The target was for all patients waiting for CT, MRI, ultrasound, DEXA or nuclear medicine scans to have their examination within 13 weeks by the end of March 2007.

The directorate, which carries out more than 300,000 examinations a year for GPs and hospital consultants, has met the target more than three months ahead of the national deadline. Most patients already wait many weeks less than the maximum.

Dr Umesh Udeshi, clinical director for radiology at the trust, said: "This is a fantastic achievement which will benefit the many patients who are referred for these examinations to be carried out every year.

"It has been possible only because of the teamwork and dedication of all the staff in radiology on all of our sites."

The radiology directorate has achieved its success despite dealing with 10,000 more patients this year than last and cutting costs and staff as the trust seeks to make savings.

Trust chief executive John Rostill said: "The great work done by the radiology team is good news for patients and good news for the trust.

"It is a shining example of what our staff can achieve, even when faced with considerable challenges, and it will make a huge contribution to our efforts to bring waiting times for all patients down even further."