Yeovil District Hospital has hit all waiting list targets set by the government, for the second year running.

Hospital bosses say there has been a significant reduction in waiting times for routine treatment, for example.

Figures released last week reveal that no patient from Somerset has to wait longer than a year for routine surgery, whilst patients referred to the hospital from Dorset wait no longer than half a year.

People with a first outpatient appointment wait for an average of seven weeks before being seen - with the maximum figure being 13 weeks for Dorset referrals and 26 weeks for Somerset patients.

Corporate services manager Mel Hillman said that the difference between Dorset and Somerset patients was the result of different agreements and funding arrangements when the two counties had separate health authorities.

The recent creation of Dorset and Somerset Health Authority would bring the two waiting lists together.

Commenting on the figures as a whole, East Somerset NHS Trust chief executive James Scott said: "This year-on-year reduction in waiting times should come as reassurance to local people and demonstrate our commitment to ensuring patients are diagnosed and treated more quickly."