AVERAGE waiting times at A&E in Oxfordshire have now been below the national target for more than a year.

According to a report for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s board, the number of people waiting for four hours or less to be treated has remained under 95 per cent since September 2015.

In September 2016 just 82.8 per cent of all those visiting A&E departments in the county were seen, assessed and discharged or admitted within four hours - a total of 10,441 out of 12,610.

In his report, clinical services director Paul Brennan said: “The performance has gradually decreased with continuing large fluctuations between weeks.

“The main days which do not meet the target are Sunday to Wednesday each week. 

“Action is being taken to make improvements in systems and staffing where these are possible. Progress on this plan is being reported on a fortnightly basis.”

Mr Brennan also noted that the number of emergency admissions was 6.7 per cent higher in September 2016 than September 2015, continuing a steady rise above the national average throughout this year.

Emergency admissions peaked in the week of September 18 with reports of staff ‘rushed off their feet’ surfacing in the Banbury area by people attending the Horton General Hospital. Some patients reported eight-hour waits on trolleys.

An ‘urgent care improvement plan’ is in place and OUH is receiving progress on a fortnightly basis.