LONG trolley waits, cancelled operations and waiting list delays could be a thing of the past now thereare plans to radically improve the performance of health services across the region.
Waiting lists for in-patient treatment in West Surrey are the seventh highest in England.
The Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) which are being published by Health Authorities throughout England, identify priorities for improvement in each region.
Among the priorities for West Surrey are long waits for in-patient treatment and for out-patients to see consultants, unacceptable trolley waits and cancelled operations, as well as high numbers of delayed transfers.
Director of performance development at West Surrey Health Authority, David Smith, said: "Long waits have been a feature of local health care for too long.
"The PIP demonstrates our on-going commitment to getting these issues sorted out once and for all."
Proposals to improve the situation include the investment of £2.2 million in 2001 to 2002 financial framework; the creation of 20 additional beds by the end of December this year, and use of private sector capacity.
Patients who have been waiting for over 15 months will also benefit from an additional £590,000 from the Department of Health, which West Surrey Health Authority will use to target the problem.
After failing to meet its target in the 2000 to 2001 period for out-patients to see consultants, the authority has acknowledged that improvements must be made.
A spokesman said: "The number of out-patients has increased by 32 per cent since April of this year. This presents a major challenge to the NHS across West Surrey."
Proposals including improving the booking systems and the development of more specialist GPs.
To reduce delayed transfers and bed blocking the health authority will receive an additional £1 million from the government for the current financial year
A review of the patient discharge procedures has been proposed to ensure that discharge planning starts on or before the admission to hospital.
Other measures to improve patient services in general include a drive to recruit more staff from overseas.
Nurses from the Philippines are already working in all three of the region's acute hospitals and a recruitment programme is now underway in Spain.
These measures accompany proposals to improve the availability of housing for key workers and the creation of additional childcare capacity.
Commenting on the PIP as a whole, Mr Smith said: "It is not going to be easy, the challenges are immense but with the right support I am sure that the NHS locally will deliver the improvements required."