Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital fails to meet A&E wait targets

Just 80 per cent of patients were seen within four hours in August - way down on the national 95 per cent NHS target.

It comes amid warnings of a looming winter care crisis at the Dudley hospital.

Health chiefs at Dudley Council called the figures 'extremely disappointing' but said there is no 'overnight solution'.

Meanwhile hospital bosses pointed to the development of a new emergency treatment centre which will relieve pressure on A&E when it gets built.

The number of patients seen within four hours dropped from July, when the figure was 82 per cent. Meanwhile in June the figure was 90 per cent.

Councillor Nicholas Barlow, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "We are already worried about what the situation of what the pressure from Winter will bring.

"These are very disappointing figures. The problem is there is a shortage of nurses right across the board.

"Dudley Council and our NHS partners are coming together looking at ways to reduce hospital admissions.

"There is not an overnight solution. Obviously this is very disappointing but sometimes the government puts in targets that are not realistic.

"The hospital staff are doing an excellent job who make sure people are seen as quickly and safely as possible."

NHS trust bosses announced plans in the summer for the £2.6 million EMC to be built at the hospital, which is due to open in November.

Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We always do our best to make sure patients attending our emergency department are seen as quickly as possible and continue to see, treat, admit or discharge the vast majority of patients within four hours.

"Our combined performance in August for all types of emergency attendances, which is measured as part of the national four-hour target, was 87.2 per cent.

"Patients are always prioritised in order of clinical need to make sure that acutely unwell patients receive the urgent medical attention they require as soon as possible.

"In partnership with the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group, we have invested £2.6m in a brand new emergency treatment centre which is currently being built. This new facility will mean better assessment by appropriate clinicians and less pressure on A&E, supporting reduced waiting times and a better experience for our patients.

"We continue to work closely and robustly in collaboration with our health and social care colleagues from across the region to ensure our patients receive safe and appropriate care at all times."