The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, in Headington, Oxford, has been named the worst for waiting times in the country.

Government figures published on Thursday revealed that the hospital treated just five per cent of its patients within 18 weeks of GP referral - the joint lowest rate, shared by a hospital in Middlesex, of any health trust.

By contrast, across England as a whole, 48 per cent of patients treated in March had waited less than 18 weeks.

Health trusts have been given until the end of next year to ensure that every patient starts treatment within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP.

Sara Randall, the NOC's acting director of operations, said: "We are fully confident that we will achieve the maximum 18-week waiting time."

Health Minister Andy Burnham put a brave face on the figures and insisted the NHS was on track to meet the national target by December 2008. He said: "There are challenges ahead, as the data shows. But we are well on course to deliver our historic goal of ending waiting as we know it in the NHS. It will be a huge achievement."