HC Deb 29 October 2002 vol 391 c749W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on waiting times in accident and emergency departments. [75384]

Mr. Lammy

Long waits in accident and emergency are not acceptable and improving patients' experience of emergency care is a Government priority.

The NHS Plan set the target to reduce the maximum wait in accident and emergency (A&E) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours or less by 2004. By the time of the first milestone in March 2002, 77 per cent, of all patients attending A&E in England spent four hours or less in A&E. This slightly exceeded the milestone which was set at 75 per cent.