NHS WAITING TIME FIGURES PUBLISHED

The Government has set a key target that, by the end of 2008, nobody should wait more than 18 weeks from referral to the start of treatment.

However the figures, published on Thursday, also show that about one in eight patients are still waiting longer than a year for treatment.

The figures, based on 60% of inpatients who completed their treatment during March, show that 48% waited no more than 18 weeks following the initial referral by their GP.

About four million inpatients and eight million outpatients a year fall under the 18-week target, according to the Department of Health.

Nick Chapman, national director of the programme, said he was confident the results represented the national picture on inpatients.

And Health Minister, Andy Burnham, said the figures represented a "huge psychological step for the NHS".

He added: "For the very first time we are putting before the patients and the public data on the true patient experience.

"As of Thursday, waiting times are falling in every single PCT (primary care trust) as we make progress towards 18 weeks."

He said there were eight hospitals that had seen a "small increase" in waiting times last year and admitted there were still challenges in areas like orthopaedics. The Government will release figures on outpatients once data has been collated.