National Assembly health minister Dr Brian Gibbons has praised Pembrokeshire for making big reductions in its waiting lists.

The minister has written to Pembrokeshire Local Health Board and Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust to express his thanks following a big improvement in waiting list times throughout Wales.

No patients were waiting for over a year for treatment at Pembrokeshire's hospital at the end of March. The previous year's figure was 291.

The out-patient target was also met, with no patients waiting over 18 months for an appointment.

Dr Gibbons said the reductions represented a 'magnificent achievement'.

Local Health Board chairman, Chris Martin, said the minister's letter recognised the hard work and achievements of all health professionals in the county.

Lynette George, chairman of the local NHS Trust, added that it was particularly pleased that Withybush in-patient and day case waits had reduced from 18 months to 12 months.

"This achievement is all the more remarkable when we consider the tremendous pressures on hospital services and staff over the past year," she said.

The number of patients in Wales who have been waiting over a year for treatment has reduced from 8,457 to 845 over the last year, while those out-patients waiting over 18 months now stands at 31 - reduced from 6,204.

But, according to a new Assembly audit committee report, NHS waiting times in some areas of Wales are still 'unacceptable'.

Although it found no single cause for the problem, the report said long waiting times should be seen as a symptom of wider problems within health and social care in Wales.

Chris Martin admitted: "We know that there is more work to be done in this area and we will all strive to achieve the minister's targets."