Patient waiting times get longer

Emergency department figures show many patients are waiting longer than ever to be seen.

The latest District Health Board hospital benchmark information shows about one-in-three category two patients - those who have potential or imminent threat to life or limb - were not seen within the recommended 10 minutes.

And about one-in-every-two category three patients - those suffering fractures, breathlessness and bleeding - is seen within the recommended 30 minutes.

Category one - immediate threat to life - saw all hospitals given a 100 per cent record.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said the category two results were the worst in four years, and the category three results the second worst since recording began in 2001.

Mr Ryall said patients with life-threatening conditions were seen at once.

"But too many - who are seriously injured or ill - have to wait and wait in overcrowded and struggling emergency departments."

Mr Ryall said he had just received a report from a "taskforce" on speeding up emergency departments, although he did not reveal what it contained.

Last month he signalled that the National Government would impose maximum waiting times on emergency departments.