Southampton Hospitals just under target

The city’s primary care trurst managed 89 per cent of in-patient referrals within the time limit in January, according to Department of Health figures – just one per cent outside the target.

Southampton’s performance still represents a huge improvement on two years ago, when just 35 per cent of patients were treated within 18 weeks.

Its failure to meet the national target stood in contrast to the performance of Hampshire (93 per cent) and Isle of Wight (91 per cent) PCTs, both of which managed to reach the Government’s goal on time.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said across England 92.9 per cent of admitted patients were now treated within 18 weeks, giving the NHS the shortest waiting times since records began.

Southampton MPs rushed to congratulate the city's doctors and nurses on the progress made in driving down waiting times.

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, said: “This is a tremendous achievement by NHS clinicians and staff in Southampton who should be proud of the difference their hard work has made to the experience of every NHS patient.

“In the 1990s it was not uncommon for people to wait 18 months or more for their operation – with some people dying on the waiting list.”

John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, said: “I’m proud that over Labour's years in government, we have made sure the NHS has the staff it needs and have backed them to deliver improvements in standards and driving down waiting.”