WAITING times have improved at Airedale Hospital's A&E department.

Last week, 94.6 per cent of patients were seen within four hours.

The figure had dipped as low as 85.3 per cent – nearly 10 per cent below the Government target level.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust chiefs concede that some people have had to wait longer than ideal due to a surge in demand at the Steeton hospital's new £6.3 million state-of-the-art Emergency Department, which opened last month.

The unit dealt with over 800 patients in the first five days alone and numbers continued to grow.

"We saw over 1,000 people in the Emergency Department during Christmas week alone," said director of operations, Stacey Hunter.

"We also had more patients who needed to be admitted to hospital so it was an increase in urgent admissions, not just A&E attendances, that was making the hospital busier than normal for the time of year."

She said many patients were able to get assistance elsewhere once the festive break was over.

"We would encourage everyone to seek help as soon as their symptoms start so that we can try and prevent people, particularly our frail elderly patients, becoming so unwell that they need to be admitted," she added.

"Some GPs have extended their opening hours in the evenings and at weekends to provide patients with an alternative when they are not seriously ill which allows them to get appropriate help more quickly.

"Local pharmacists can also provide expert guidance."