Waiting times for ultrasound examinations are set to be slashed following a "groundbreaking" pilot scheme in South Woodham Ferrers.
The Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust has signed a contract with Mid Essex Hospitals Trust to provide an ultrasound examination service for every GP practice in the area.
The move has come about after the trust funded a private company from Scotland - which specialises in ultrasound examinations - to run a monthly session at South Woodham Ferrers Clinic.
Mike Harrison, chief executive at the PCT, said: "The pilot scheme has proved very successful in helping us to achieve two of our key aims - reducing waiting times and providing services more locally."
A spokesman for the trust says ultrasound examinations are becoming "increasingly commonplace" because they can help diagnose a wide variety of conditions such as thyroid problems, gall stones and ovarian cysts.
But there is a wait of up to 16 weeks at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford.
Mr Harrison says people should not have to wait more than four weeks for an appointment with the new scheme, and their GP will receive a report on the same day as the examination.
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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