GWENT patients are being offered a chance to shorten their wait for body scans from more than six months to a week - but at a cost.

A Newport-based businessman is offering MRI scans for half the private sector going rate and believes there is a demand.

People in Wales needing the scan must, according to recent figures, wait an average of 193 days, the longest in the UK.

But Peter Jeffreys says his new Mediscan project can provide one within seven days. He denies he is making money from people's discomfort. "In an ideal world, everyone would receive diagnosis and treatment, free, at the time they need it, but these days waiting lists are an unfortunate fact of life," he said.

"Our research has shown most people would prefer to pay a reasonable price for peace of mind, than face an agonising wait and hold up essential treatment.

"This service offers that with no compromise on quality of care and at a far more affordable price."

Mr Jeffreys also runs Newport-based Medinet, which works with NHS trusts in England and Wales, in effect 'buying' selected treatment and outpatient waiting lists from them and arranging for patients to be seen at hospitals with spare capacity, to meet waiting times targets.

With Mediscan, patients need their GP or consultant to refer them. A scan can then be arranged at the patient's convenience at a mobile unit using NHS-approved specialists.

MRI is used to diagnose joint-related problems and other conditions. Results will be sent to the GP or consultant, again inside a week.

Scans start from £325, compared to the usual private sector price of £600-800. "That is out of the range of most people without private medical insurance," said Mr Jeffreys.

"There are no targets for MRI scans at the moment, so there is little incentive to cut waits down. But it is an extra wait within the process of getting a problem dealt with.

"We aim to take it nationwide but I want to start in South Wales, because I am from Gwent and waiting times down here are longer.