PATIENTS have won their battle to get vital painkilling injections.

Campaigners Colin and Diana Smith, from Weymouth, called for action after patients were left waiting for appointments at the Dorset County Hospital.

Mrs Smith, aged 63, of Wardcliffe Road, was contacted by 50 patients waiting for treatment and injections after an appeal in the Echo.

She and her husband Colin were left waiting for over two years between them for their regular injections.

They were meant to have the injections every four months for her arthritis and his degenerative back condition.

They feared that patients’ treatments were being put on hold so the hospital could concentrate on seeing new patients within its 18 weeks target.

Now they say that there has been a breakthrough after talks between patients and staff at the NHS Dorset primary care trust.

Mr Smith said: “We welcome NHS Dorset’s response and look forward to the patients they represent seeing some tangible improvements to their treatment programmes.”

Mrs Smith added: “We would also like to thank everyone for their support during this campaign.

“We want to sincerely thank the Echo as more than 50 people came forward after the story went in the paper.” The couple also want to thank patients who responded to their appeal to come forward.

Mrs Smith said: “They provided us with the information which highlighted the extent of the delays. The PCT welcomed our input and have responded positively to acknowledge the problem and address the issues.”

NHS Dorset service improvement manager and single point of contact for those affected by pain services is Nichola Arathoon.

She said: “The last few months have seen some real progress around local pain services.

“We are currently in the process of contacting all those affected by email or in writing to inform them of developments.

“Events like Health Question Time allow us to get feedback on local healthcare from those who are affected, enabling us to ensure local needs are being listened to and taken into account.

“We look forward to continuing our work with Diane and Colin to develop the pain service.”

* Contact Nichola on 01305 368900 with issues about pain services.