The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland is charged with overseeing the implementation of clinical governance. Like the Commission for Health Improvement in England and Wales, it will publish reports on the performance of trusts. The Health Technology Board - the equivalent of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence - will review treatments.

Specific targets have been introduced for waiting times: by 2003 no patient will be required to wait more than nine months for inpatient care. Patients are expected to have access to a member of a primary care team in 48 hours.

A coronary heart disease national service framework will lead to a national plan, including tackling high cholesterol and smoking.

A maximum wait of 12 weeks for an angiogram and 24 weeks for surgery will also be introduced.

By March 2001 a national cancer plan will be published with new national waiting time targets, including, by 2005, a maximum wait of two months from urgent referral to treatment for all cancers.

A diabetes framework and a maternity services framework are also planned.