PRINCESS Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has achieved the national targets for accident and emergency treatment deadlines.

Staff are now routinely achieving 95 per cent plus for door to discharge and treatment of admission within the four hours target for patients in the department, the trust said. The national target is 90 per cent.

Director of Nursing Yvonne Blucher said: "We are delighted with achieving such a high figure, but not surprised as we have been working towards this kind of achievement for several months.

"During the last week of March, when the target was assessed, over 70 per cent of patients were seen or admitted within two-and-a-half hours."

Last November, the hospital's 'under four hour' figure stood at 60 per cent, but has gradually increased.

Mrs Blucher added: "Much of the reason for these improvements can be put down to the staff who have taken on new working practices and helped us to recognise blockages in the system which have now been cleared.

"We have also seen the positive effects of initiatives such as the emergency medical unit introduced last year to divert urgent referral and assessment patients away from the accident and emergency treatment area and into their own designated wards."

Trust chairman Robert Powell said: "Our accident and emergency staff have been outstanding.

"They have adapted to new ideas and have come up with quite a few themselves. They deserve full recognition for their efforts in continuing to improve this vital part of our hospital life."

April 28, 2003 15:00