West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for Hemel Hempstead Hospital, has been rated as one of best trusts in England despite surging demand over the winter.
In January, the trust was ranked 8th out of 121 trusts across the country for A&E waiting times, with 80.3 per cent of patients being treated within the four-hour target.
Just over two years ago, the trust was in 102nd place for its A&E performance.
This came despite a surge in demand for care with winter illnesses like flu and norovirus, high bed occupancy, and difficulties discharging patients adding further pressures to services.
Cancer and planned treatment have also improved over the last year at West Herts, which covers a population of more than 600,000 people in Hemel, Watford, St Albans, and surrounding areas.
A total of 98.6 per cent of cancer patients started their treatment within 31 days of agreeing a treatment plan with their doctor in December, and 87.2 per cent of patients with an urgent suspected cancer referral were treated within two months.
Chief operating officer Rachel Thorman said: “These latest figures from NHS England reflect the hard work, dedication and skill of our teams in delivering high-quality care over these difficult and complex winter months.
“The significant and sustained improvements we’ve seen are a result of our detailed focus on every aspect of what we do… Numbers and targets are important to an extent, but only in as far as they reflect how we’re improving what we do for our patients – and that’s what motivates us all.
“It’s not going to be easy and we know there are still many people waiting too long for care, but we’re making progress and will continue to work hard to keep on improving for our patients.”
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