Almost nine in ten patients visiting Newham University Hospital’s accident and emergency department last month were treated within four hours, new figures have revealed.

Almost 14,000 patients came through the department’s doors last month - an increase of 1,000 on January 2017. Despite that, 88 per cent were treated within the national four hour standard.

Across Barts Health NHS Trust as a whole, the number of patients treated within the time limit rose from 81pc to 86.5pc, despite an increase in patient numbers of 3,200.

Barts Health chief executive Alwen Williams said: “I am hugely grateful to all our staff for working so tirelessly in the face of such increased demand.

“This improvement is testament to their hard work. We will do all we can to build on this work and make sure our patients get the care they need as promptly and safely as possible.”