More than two-thirds of patients who arrived at accident and emergency at Oxford University Hospitals Trust last month were seen within four hours, new figures show.

The NHS standard is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen within four hours. However, as part of a recovery plan, the health service aims for 78 per cent of patients to be seen within this time frame by March 2025.

Recent NHS England figures show there were 19,158 visits to A&E at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in October.

Of them, 13,224 were seen within four hours – accounting for 69 per cent of arrivals.

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Some 73 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 74 per cent in September.

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also rose, standing at 148,789 in October.

At Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 947 patients waited longer than four hours.

Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at health think tank The King’s Fund, said: "Only 73 per cent of people are seen within four hours in A&E compared to the NHS standard of 95 per cent – a target not met in over eight years – and a target missed by every hospital trust running a major A&E department in England."

It comes as Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to publish a league table of the best and worst performing hospitals, based on how long patients have to wait for A&E treatment, surgery and other care, and the state of the trust’s finances.

Mr Anandaciva said transparency is a good aim, but warned the league table alone will not lead to "better and faster care" this winter.

"Shifting more care into the community, reforming social care, and bolstering prevention, will all be key to making our healthcare service fit for the future," he said.

About 2.4 million people attended A&E departments across England last month – the busiest October on record.

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The overall number of attendances to A&E at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in October rose 12 per cent from the 17,032 visits recorded during September.

This was 20 per cent more than the 15,964 patients seen in October 2023.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said the NHS is going into winter "under more pressure and busier than ever before".

He added: "While we continue to treat record numbers and deal with record demand, it is clear that there is still much further to go to return performance to the levels patients should expect and we will continue to work with Government on the 10 Year Health Plan to address the needs of patients."