PATIENTS who have benefited from improved hospital waiting times today hailed the success.

Scots hospitals have achieved their best all-round performance on waiting times.

Figures show the Executive has met its 18-week maximum waiting time target for in-patients and day cases.

But health boards are still failing to ensure 95% of cancer patients start treatment within two months of an urgent referral.

The Executive has worked with hospitals to help meet the key 18-week target - including the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank.

Formerly the private HCI hospital, it was bought by the Executive to help cut waiting times and now treats patients from around Scotland.

Henry Hinson, 76, from Coatbridge, waited 12 weeks for a hip replacement operation after being referred to the Golden Jubilee.

He said: "I was very surprised at how quickly I was taken.

"I went to see a consultant at Monklands in November and he told me not to make any plans for January or February because I would be taken in. It was a bit of a shock.

"The treatment I've been given has been first class but I know others aren't so fortunate."

Pensioner Mary Franchi, from Cardonald, underwent knee surgery at the Golden Jubilee last week after a 14-week wait.

She said: "I've been a patient in other hospitals and have always been treated well but nothing compares to this."

The latest figures for July-September last year show 82% of cancer patients in Scotland started treatment within two months of an urgent referral, up from 79%.

In Glasgow, 85% were seen within 62 days, up from 78% in the previous quarter.

The city reported a rise in performance for lung, breast, head and neck cancers but needs to make progress in colorectal, urology and skin cancer.

The figures comes as Health Minister Andy Kerr pledged to investigate SNP claims that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is removing some in-patients from official waiting lists.

Mr Kerr said: "We've no reason to suspect Greater Glasgow and Clyde or any other boards are using lists inappropriately."

Board chief executive Tom Divers said: "The challenges of achieving ever-better waiting time targets has been enormous but we continue to build up capacity to ensure we continue to meet targets."

Meanwhile, bed-blocking in hospitals has fallen sharply. The number of patients ready for discharge for more than six weeks but still in hospital was 606 in January, compared to 679 last October and 778 a year ago.