TOO many patients are waiting too long for treatment in Colchester’s accident and emergency department.

Figures from Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust show nearly one in five patients waiting more than four hours to be seen in A&E.

Last month, 81.9 per cent of patients were waiting less than four hours, compared to a national target of 95 per cent.

The local figure was also worse than those for June and May, which were 85.7 per cent and 93.2 per cent.

Trust leaders said it was a reflection of the ever-increasing pressure on Colchester General Hospital’s emergency department.

A spokesman said: “In terms of the number of patients turning up at the emergency department, it feels as if winter this year started in June.

“Attendance rose every month during the first half of 2015, from a daily average of 185 in January to 230 in June.

“And in the second three months of the year, ambulance activity at the department rose by 9.7 per cent, compared to the same quarter in 2014.’’ The spokesman added: “However, the department has undergone a major reform programme during the course of 2015, which has contributed to some improvements in performance.

“In December, the number of ambulance handovers over 60 minutes was 285 and in March it was 343. but this fell to 89 last month.” The spokesman said the trust had made “demonstrable progress” in its emergency department performance so far this year, but recognised this was still a “work in progress”.

He said: “The trust has been working with the national emergency care intensive support team and implemented best practice from across the country with Dr John Heyworth, former president of the College of Emergency Medicine and the ambulatory emergency care delivery network.

“We have invested in establishing three rapid assessment and diagnostic units – one for medical patients, one for surgical patients and one for frail and elderly patients – which has increased our ability to rapidly assess and treat patients, resulting in shorter hospital stays.

“Staffing levels have improved significantly on every shift and, from September, there will be a full consultant rota for the first time in several years, although the majority will remain longterm locums.”