Dr Brian Gibbons said the NHS in Wales is a 'national illness service'

Entitled Designed for Life, Dr Brian Gibbons said it will aims to change the NHS from a "national illness service" to a genuine health service.

It sets out to use the resources of the NHS more efficiently, and cut waiting times, once and for all.

But opposition parties said they are still not convinced new 'targets' will deliver improvements in health care.

Above all, we want to change the nature of the NHS - to transform it from the national illness service it currently is into a truly national health service Dr Brian Gibbons

He says the vision is challenging for all involved in delivering health and social care, but they will be equipped with the tools to achieve change.

New targets for this September aim to cut the number of people whose transfer from hospital is delayed, resulting in beds being blocked for other patients.

The Designed for Life strategy also puts more emphasis on keeping people out of hospital by treating them in local centres or in their own homes.

The way health care is delivered could also change, with three specialist centres planned for south Wales.

More joint working in health and social care is needed, he says

In addition, GP services are set to be expanded, with family doctors to form networks to take on many testing and diagnostic services carried out in district hospitals.

Dr Gibbons is also to promise more discussion with the public over what health services they feel is needed.

In the reports' foreword , he says: "Over the next five years we will eliminate long waiting times permanently.

"We will do this by building an NHS and social care service that provides high quality, (and is) fashioned to meet the individual needs of patients and clients.

"Yet in doing so we will continue to reflect the distinct communities of Wales.

"Above all, we want to change the nature of the NHS: to transform it from the national illness service it currently is into a truly national health service."

Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the BMA Welsh council, said he was pleased the strategy had been unveiled.

"We have been saying for a couple of years that one thing that was missing from the NHS in Wales is a plan of where we are trying to get to," he said.

'Failed targets'

A 10-year plan for social care is due to be announced in the summer.

Plaid Cymru health spokesman Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the Designed for Life report was "a wish list of laudable aims" with "no idea how they are to be achieved".

The Welsh Conservatives said the plan "lacks vision and is short on new ideas".

Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Kirsty Williams said there was a lot in the document to recommend it, but is concerned about the Labour party's ability to deliver.