ACCIDENT and emergency units in Gwent failed to meet four- hour waiting times targets in June, according to figures published yesterday.

The Aneurin Bevan Health Board (ABHB) for Gwent saw 14,765 people admitted to emergency care facilities in the area in June, with 91.4 per cent having spent less than four hours in care until admission, transfer or discharge, and 96.6 per cent spending less than eight hours. The target for spending less than four hours is 95 per cent.

This is compared to the Welsh average of 87.7 per cent. Only Powys Teaching achieved the Welsh Government’s target.

The figures show the Welsh Government missed both its latest four hour and 12 hour accident and emergency waiting time targets.

Nearly 1,000 patients in Wales waited more than 12 hours in A&E in June.

Of the 14,765 A&E patients at ABHB units in June, 98.8 per cent spent less than 12 hours in care, while 182 patients spent more than 12 hours in care during this period. The target is zero.

Welsh Conservatives AM Darren Millar, shadow minister for health, said the latest missed targets was further evidence of an “under-performing health service” under Labour.

He said: “For young children, the elderly and other ill patients, waiting more than four hours and even as long as 12 hours to be seen in accident and emergency is intolerable.

“Excessively long waits are distressing to patients and their families and can have a negative effect on their medical condition.

“Earlier this year to tackle long waiting times in A&E, the Welsh Labour Government introduced a new target that no patient should wait more than 12 hours, but in June nearly 1,000 patients waited that long.

“The crisis in Welsh A&E departments has knock-on effects on other parts of the NHS, preventing ambulances from transferring patients and delaying them from responding to other emergency calls.

“Labour Ministers must address the capacity issues in Welsh A&E departments, reverse their A&E closures and centralisation agenda and properly resource our NHS so staff can provide the level of care patients need.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “With this statistical release we are pleased to have available additional contextual information on the timeliness of care provided at A&E for the first time.

“This latest information shows that around half of patients are assessed, treated and admitted or discharged within two hours. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”