OUTPATIENT waiting times at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary have been slashed by a new one-stop-shop approach.

The one-stop clinics cater for elective surgery patients, such as those suffering with cysts, lesions and those who have orthopaedic conditions such as carpal tunnel disorder.

Patients referred to the service bypass outpatient or pre-admission clinics.

Between April 2003 and May 2004, 264 patients were seen in the general surgery one-stop clinic and 209 had their surgery carried out on the day.

The new service has seen a waiting time reduction equivalent of 21 outpatient clinics

Day surgery matron, Jane Frost, said: "With the one-stop approach patients benefit from shorter waiting times, fewer visits to specialists and better outcomes, because they have their surgery earlier."