HOSPITAL patients are still waiting too long for treatment as health bosses continue to battle high demand and bed shortages.

A report to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust shows just over 80 per cent of patents were seen, treated and either discharged or admitted within four hours in February.

This is below the national standard of 95 per cent but a slight improvement on the previous month.

A large part of the problem is due to overcrowding in A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton caused by a lack of available beds on wards for patients who need to be admitted.

Bed occupancy levels at the trust reached 100 per cent in January, well above the recommended safe level of 85 per cent.

The trust was also dealing with an average 80 patients a day who were taking up beds because a nursing or care home place had not been found for them or arrangements needed to be made to provide support in their own homes.

Although the trust has failed to hit national targets for patients being treated after being referred by their GP, board members were told at a meeting yesterday there were changes for the better.

Chief operating officer Rab McEwan said: “We are showing an improved picture in the emergency access standard.

“With referral to treatment, there remains a continued steady improvement.”

The number of times ambulance crews have had to wait more than an hour to hand over patients at A&E has also fallen with 168 cases reported in February compared to 276 the month before.

Work done by the trust has included opening up extra beds in Newhaven for patients who no longer need urgent medical care but this has had an impact on finances as bosses have to find nursing staff to provide cover.

The trust, which is in financial special measures, is currently forecasting a deficit of more than £62 million.

New chief executive Marianne Griffiths has already said she wants to get the trust out of special measures for both finances and quality within two years.

NHS Improvement has also approved up to £30m being spent at the Royal Sussex’s A&E department to improve the layout and make it easier for patients and staff to get around.