More than two-thirds of A&E arrivals at Buckinghamshire Healthcare were seen within four hours last month. 

New data from NHS England shows there were 15,951 visits to A&E at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in October. 

Of those patients, 11,262 were seen within four hours, accounting for 71 per cent of arrivals. 

The NHS standard is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen within four hours, but as part of the recovery plan, the health service is aiming for 78 per cent by March 2025.

Across England, 73 per cent of patients were seen within four hours last month, down from 74 per cent in September. 

Some 49,592 emergency admissions waited more than 12 hours in A&E from a decision to admit to actually being admitted. 

This was the third-highest monthly figure since records began in 2010. 

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also rose, standing at 148,789 in October.

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At Buckinghamshire Healthcare, 670 patients waited longer than four hours, including 347 who were delayed by more than 12.

About 2.4 million people attended A&E departments across England last month – the busiest October on record.

The overall number of attendances to A&E at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in October was a rise of 11 per cent on the 14,353 visits recorded during September, and 11 per cent timmore than the 14,322 patients seen in October 2023.

Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at health think tank The King’s Fund, said "The figures show that NHS performance issues are endemic across the country and deep-rooted, with many key targets having been missed for years.

"Only 73 per cent of people are seen within four hours in A&E compared to the NHS standard of 95 per cent – a target not met in over eight years – and a target missed by every hospital trust running a major A&E department in England."

It comes as Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to publish a league table of the best and worst performing hospitals, based on how long patients have to wait for A&E treatment, surgery and other care, and the state of the trust’s finances.

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Mr Anandaciva said transparency is a good aim, but warned the league table alone will not lead to "better and faster care" this winter

He added: "We know that what happens outside of hospitals can create the pressures we see inside hospitals.

"Shifting more care into the community, reforming social care, and bolstering prevention, will all be key to making our healthcare service fit for the future."

Nuffield Trust deputy director of research Sarah Scobie said: "Today’s figures offer fresh insight into just how pressured things are in the health service as it braces itself for another tough winter.

"The next few months look to be particularly demanding in urgent care as familiar winter pressures rear their head again."

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said the NHS is going into winter "under more pressure and busier than ever before".

He added: "While we continue to treat record numbers and deal with record demand, it is clear that there is still much further to go to return performance to the levels patients should expect and we will continue to work with Government on the 10 Year Health Plan to address the needs of patients."