BRADFORD'S hospitals have bucked the national trend for the number of people seen within four hours in A&E in July.

Data from NHS England shows that 95 per cent of patients - 9,082 - were seen in that time at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust - higher than many other places elsewhere in the country.

Airedale Hospital Trust also cared for 93.7 per cent of A&E patients - equivalent to 4,725 people - within the four hour period.

Labour's health minister Jonathan Ashworth had warned of a “growing and alarming backlog of clinical need with patients waiting longer for operations and diagnostic tests” in other locations across the UK.

Mr Ashworth said: “Waiting times were dire before the pandemic and we are reaching some worrying new lows. Especially concerning is that the low number of people starting cancer treatment after attending national screening programmes, which indicates that people also aren’t able to access screening or quick treatment. This is incredibly concerning when we know that early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to saving lives.”

In relation to the A&E figures, a spokesperson for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Over the past few months we have seen improved A spokesperson for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Over the past few months we have seen improved performance in our Accident and Emergency (A&E) waiting times, despite the number of attendances remaining constant even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are pleased with the steady reduction in waiting times so that more patients are treated, admitted or discharged within four hours.

“The creation of our ‘Blue Zone’ or ‘Same Day Emergency Care’ area is having a positive effect on our A&E waiting times. After being assessed in A&E, some of our patients are able to be treated in the Blue Zone, where they can undergo tests and scans in a timely manner.

“It remains the case that attendances are sometimes inappropriate, and this puts undue pressure on the hospital, so we would continue to remind people to think carefully before coming to A&E.

“However, it is important that people attend if they have any worrying signs including symptoms of a stroke, chest pain, abdominal pain or fractures.

“We are here to keep the people of Bradford safe – just as we always have and always will.”