Dudley hospital the only one in West Midlands to hit A&E targets

There were 1,809 attendances at the hospital's A&E unit last week and 96.8 per cent were seen within four hours – one of the highest figures in the country.

The hospital has repeatedly hit the target in recent months and was the only one in the Midlands to meet the NHS standard of 95 per cent during October, November and December.

Accident and emergency departments across England have failed to meet the target of 95 per cent of patients seen within four hours for the 20th week in a row.

NHS England said 91.6 per cent of patients spent four hours or less from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge in the week ending February 15. The figure was down from 92.9 per cent the previous week.

It came as the number of admissions reached its highest levels since the peak seen at Christmas with 420,700 patients – up from 407,000 the previous week.

It is the 20th week in succession that the four-hour goal of 95 per cent has been missed.

The number of emergency admissions was also up to 107,200 from 105,500 the previous week and up on the 104,500 peak seen last year. More than 8,890 people had to wait more than four hours, up from 7,280 the previous week.

Dr Barbara Hakin, national director of commissioning operations for NHS England, said: "Last week saw a sharp increase in A&E attendances and emergency admissions – up by nearly 15,000 on the week before. These are the highest levels since Christmas and are also up on the same week last year.

"This has resulted in a slight impact on waiting times, but we continue to admit, treat and discharge more than nine out of 10 patients within four hours."

In the week leading up to Christmas, A&E departments saw an unprecedented peak of 446,473 attendances.

Public Health England said there were similar levels of flu to the previous week – particularly in the elderly.

There has also been significant excess mortality this week among those aged 65 plus, coinciding with circulating flu and the recent cold snaps. Cold weather alerts have been in place across the country since January 12.

The number of instances of 'bed-blocking' was the same as last week.The NHS 111 phone line had 270,000 calls in the week ending February 15, up from 251,000 in the previous week, but significantly down on the peak of 439,000 for the week ending December 28.