QUICKER diagnosis and increased bed capacity are the main aims of Airedale NHS Trust over the next three years.

A "one-stop shop" for minor injuries, a stroke centre and a rapid access clinic for coronary heart disease are just some of the proposals outlined in the trust's capacity plan.

The scheme has been drawn up as part of a national exercise to ensure the delivery of NHS targets up to 2005/6.

It focuses on reducing waiting times, giving the patient more opportunity to select treatment times, and allows for quicker diagnosis and treatment.

The report states: "The biggest challenge to reduce waiting times is additional elective capacity. Most of the additional work will be day case surgery.

"We plan to integrate the new capacity with what exists and works well, taking advantages of the opportunities to modernise care by eliminating all unnecessary steps in the patient's pathway."

The trust plans to develop an additional day case area with both diagnostic and treatment capacity - in other words, a one stop shop - for minor procedures.

It also plans to create two additional dedicated day case theatres, and continue a series of upgrades and modernisation which is already under way.

Also included in the plan, which was submitted to the strategic health authority this week, is a proposal to introduce an acute stroke service at the hospital.

This will include a dedicated stroke consultant and a team of health care professionals who can offer a fast-track outpatient service for patients suspected of suffering a mini-stroke.

Cancer services will be improved, with more doctors specialising in the area. The trust also plans to introduce clinical nurse specialists and offer more palliative care.

The trust will also be developing a service to accurately and quickly diagnose deep vein thrombosis.

About 70 per cent of the patients admitted with suspected DVT do not have the problem, but that is only determined after two or three days in hospital.

Funding has already been found for a rapid access clinic to increase resources for coronary heart disease.

This will assist in increasing outpatient capacity, reducing waiting times and increasing diagnostic tests.

It is anticipated quicker diagnosis will save the trust 800 bed days every year.

Doug Farrow, director of planning and performance, said: "Twenty-five per cent of our beds are filled by people who don't need to be here. Some of them are here because there is no alternative service to meet their needs."

On a wider scale nurse practitioners will become more commonplace relieving the pressure on doctors at GP surgeries and will also be introduced into nursing homes and residential homes.

This work will be done in conjunction with the primary care trusts.

The cost of the work is due to be determined at the end of October, and around 200 staff are expected to be recruited as part of the programme.

"The plan is a wonderful opportunity for Airedale NHS Trust to modernise services to meet the needs of the 21st century," said Mr Farrow.

"Quicker and more appropriate treatment for patients will improve health outcomes for local people."