ALMOST half of A&E patients did not get seen within the four-hour target which was set by the government.

NHS England have published a report based on data from December 2019 on how many patients were seen at A&E within four hours.

Just 57 per cent of patients were seen within four hours after going to A&E in Worcestershire last month.

In total, 4,852 patients in Worcestershire waited over four hours in A&E in December, with 101 of those stuck there for over 12 hours.

READ MORE: Worcester's Coffee Dough re-opened after being closed for two years

READ MORE: 'I told them I'd been in jail for assault but they gave me a job anyway' – ex staff speak out as Worcester care company criticised by CQC

This number has increased in comparison to 2018, where only 4,426 waited over four hours.

The government set a target in 2004 for 95 per cent of patients to be treated or admitted within four hours.

Nationally, A&E units in England have just experienced their worst month since the target was introduced, with 68 per cent.

This shows the national average is way below the target rate – where 381,612 people waited in A&E over four hours last December.

In comparison to December 2018 in the county, 58 per cent of patients were seen within the targeted time frame.

Figures from December 2018 show that 270,039 patients in England waited over four hours.

A spokesman from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Our doctors, nurses and other staff are working hard to provide care for a significantly higher than usual number of people, and we are sorry that this means some patients waiting longer than they should for care in A&E or a place on a ward.

“The public can help NHS staff by getting their flu jab if they’re eligible, talking to a pharmacist for expert advice about winter bugs before they get worse, or using the NHS 111 phone or online service if they need medical help fast but aren’t sure what to do.”