NHS Lanarkshire is committed to ensuring that it meets the Executive’s target of a maximum waiting time of 26 weeks for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant, following referral by a General Medical/Dental Practitioner from 31 December 2005.The National Waiting Times Unit has agreed local performance improvement targets and plans with individual NHS boards, including NHS Lanarkshire, which set out the progress to be made in 2004-06 towards delivery of this commitment.To assist with the achievement of the 26-weeks target, the Centre for Change and Innovation is driving forward the implementation of a £7 million national service redesign initiative for Orthopaedic outpatient services, which was launched in May 2004 and for which NHS Lanarkshire is a pilot site.In the coming weeks, I will announce full details of new, reduced waiting times commitments for both outpatient consultations and in-patient and day case treatment.