ORTHOPAEDIC services in Gwent are no longer under Assembly-imposed special measures, after the maximum 36-week waiting time target was met by the area's hospitals.

Health bosses hailed the "magnificent" efforts of staff to hit what seemed at one stage to be an impossible target.

And they are in no doubt it played a major part in the reaffirmation of support by former health minister Edwina Hart in March, to the multi-million pound proposal for a Specialist and Critical Care Centre for Gwent, to treat the area's sickest patients.

Last December, more than 900 patients had waiting more than 36 weeks for orthopaedic treatment in Gwent hospitals - from the time of their GP referral - as those hospitals struggled with a capacity problem in the specialty.

Extra consultants, creation of more operating theatre capacity, weekend operating sessions, and treatment through the NHS at St Joseph's private hospital in Newport, were among a range of measures that helped eliminate waits over 36 weeks.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board (ABHB) chairman David Jenkins hailed the lifting of special measures and achievement of the 36-week target.

"Some health boards decided to come away from trying to reach the 36-week target but we said we were determined to get there, and that was the right decision," he said.

"It is a major performance target against which we are rightly judged by government and patients.

"I am absolutely certain it played a part in the SCCC decision. They (the Welsh Government) have to have confidence we can deliver."

Performance director Allan Davies said ABHB performed the best out of Wales' larger health boards, but warned of further challenges.

Twenty-six weeks is the official maximum referral-to-treatment time across all specialties and at least 95 per cent of treatments should be started inside this period.

Normally, 36 weeks is allowed as a maximum only for complex cases where 26 weeks might prove too challenging, hence the five per cent leeway on the latter target.

During 2010/11, Gwent hospitals treated only 88 per cent of orthopaedic patients inside 26 weeks.

Achieving 95 per cent while also managing existing capacity backlogs will involve several thousands of extra outpatient appointments and treatments, and will take into 2012/13.