EMERGENCY patients are being seen faster than ever in Worcestershire's hospitals.

Figures for July to September this year show 95.7 per cent of patients were seen, treated, and admitted or discharged from Worcestershire's emergency departments within four hours. The Government target is 96 per cent.

John Rostill, chief executive of the Acute Hospital NHS Trust, hailed the figures as "a remarkable turn-around" from previous years.

"A few years ago we found 60 to 70 per cent of patients were being dealt with within the four-hour period," he said. "Now we are regularly hitting the high 90s.

"We have had 100 per cent on some days.

"There's no doubt that this is one of those areas where the introduction of Government targets has improved the patient experience."

The figures take into account the accident and emergency departments at both Worcestershire Royal and Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, and the county's minor injury units.

The hospitals, which deal with around 2,500 patients a month, perform at 95.02 per cent.

The Kidderminster and Evesham minor injury units, which treat around 420 patients each month, operate at almost 100 per cent.

Nationally, the Improving Emergency Care in England report criticised short staffing in hospitals, however Mr Rostill said this was not a current problem in Worcestershire.