Health Minister Andy Kerr says key waiting targets have been met

A Freedom of Information request by a doctor suggested many routine hip and knee operations at the Southern General were classed as highly specialised.

This had meant patients could be removed from waiting lists.

However, the health board said these "negative accusations" had overshadowed its waiting times "success story".

The latest statistics for NHS Scotland hospitals showed national 18-week waiting times guarantees for in-patients and day cases had been met.

Waiting for out-patient appointments were also significantly reduced.

However, Dr Jim Finlayson, who works on Mull of Kintyre, pointed to the Southern General where many patients had been exempt from the targets.

If we find any codes inappropriately applied then we will get the patients treated extremely quickly and take appropriate action Health Minister Andy Kerr

He said there were 87 knee replacements at the Southern General and 46 patients were given an "ASC code four".

This meant their treatment was considered to be highly specialised and exempt from waiting times guarantees.

This was in contrast to patients at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where there were 239 knee replacements and no code fours.

The figures also suggested that the situation was similar for hip replacements.

"Definite fiddle"

Dr Finlayson said: "I am particularly shocked because it looks to me as though there is a definite attempt to fiddle the figures and make it look good on paper and it is harming the patients.

"I think first of all Andy Kerr should stop saying everything is wonderful when it isn't."

However, Andy Kerr said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had advised him that the codes had been used appropriately.

"These matters will be investigated," he said.

"If we find any codes inappropriately applied then we will get the patients treated extremely quickly and take appropriate action."

Patients who are waiting too long are being diverted onto hidden waiting lists so that the health minister can pat himself on the back Nicola Sturgeon SNP

He added that most code fours were applied if the patient was unable to make treatment and that this would be abolished by the end of this year.

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is investing an additional �9m to ensure that ASCs are removed by the target date," he said.

Tom Divers, the health board's chief executive, said the hospital had a positive story to tell.

"Contrary to the accusations that the Southern has been 'using' ASC codes inappropriately, the fact is that there are 22% fewer orthopaedic patients with an ASC four code at the hospital today than there were in June of last year," he said.

He also said there had been significant overall improvements in waiting times at the hospital.

'Intolerable pressure'

But Scottish National Party deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Health Minister Andy Kerr of spin.

"There is a huge gulf between patients' real life experiences and the statistics highlighted by the government.

"Patients who are waiting too long are being diverted onto hidden waiting lists so that the health minister can pat himself on the back and claim that no-one is waiting longer than six months."

Nanette Milne MSP, Scottish Conservative health spokeswoman also criticised the Scottish Executive.

"The Lib-Lab pact's obsession with presentation and targets harms those who work in frontline services," she said.

"It was no surprise to hear this, as the political pressure being exerted on NHS managers is intolerable."

Meanwhile, the figures for July to September 2006 also suggested that the executive failed to meet its target of 95% of patients getting treatment for cancer within two months of an urgent referral, with a figure of 82.5%.