Investment is being poured into scanning equipment

The �50m drive will see investment in new equipment, scanners, staff and training by the end of 2007.

The Scottish Executive said that no patient should expect to wait for more than nine weeks for an MRI scan, CT scans or other diagnostic tests.

NHS Forth Valley is setting up a full MRI service in partnership with a private firm.

At present, Alliance Medical Ltd provides a limited MRI service three days a week using a mobile scanner.

It is clear that we need significantly more capacity - both in staff and equipment Andy Kerr Health Minister

Health Minister Andy Kerr said the full-time scanner service would also be available outside normal hours for use by NHS Forth Valley and other health boards if needed.

The new diagnostic standards will also be brought within waiting time targets and the minister pledged that patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks for treatment - including diagnostic tests - by the end of 2007.

Mr Kerr said: "Top priority is always given to emergencies and clinically urgent cases where there should be no question of undue delay in diagnosis.

"But it is clear that we need significantly more capacity - both in staff and equipment to meet the needs of the NHS.

"This investment will deliver it."

Cancer hopes

The minister, who was speaking at the Beatson Centre in Glasgow, said he expected the �50m investment to have a major impact on cancer treatment by offering faster diagnosis.

"We have made huge strides in improving cancer treatment in Scotland over the last four years," he said.

"But we must ensure that we drive up standards across the country.

Andy Kerr said the current situation was "not good enough"

"At present, patients classed by clinicians as 'routine' can wait up to a year or more for some diagnostic tests which will determine their treatment.

"That's simply not good enough. I know the worry and stress for these patients and their families certainly isn't routine.

"This investment and the new diagnostic standards will change that."

As well as new equipment, the money will be spent on training programmes for nurses and other health professionals to carry out key diagnostic tests.

The number of endoscopies carried out by specialist nurses is set to double by 2007 through service redesign and increasing the number of nurse endoscopists from 39 to 64.