Health chiefs say they are speeding up the time patients get treated at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Ninety-six per cent of patients who required admission to hospital, and 97.5 per cent of patients requiring outpatient care, started their treatment within 18 weeks of GP referral.

The figures were released on Thursday by the Department of Health.

In addition to this, based on 18 Week data from the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority, Medway NHS Foundation Trust was the highest achieving acute trust for both admitted and non-admitted patients in the south east coast region.

The 18 Week Referral To Treatment targets were outlined by the Government in the 2004 NHS Improvement Plan.

This gave NHS trusts until March 2008 to cut the time that patients must wait from referral to treatment to 18 weeks by 85 per cent for admitted and 90 per cent for non-admitted patients.

The ultimate target of reducing waiting times for up to 90% for admitted patients and 95 per cent for non-admitted patients must be met by December 31 2008.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust not only achieved the March 2008 target but surpassed it by 11 per cent for admitted and 7.5 per cent for non-admitted patients. Chief Executive, Andrew Horne, said: “This achievement is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone at Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

I’d like to extend a huge thank you to every member of staff for enabling the Trust to meet a target which has often been described as one of the most challenging changes the NHS has ever embarked upon.

“We feel invigorated by these results and are firmly resolved to continue to provide care of the highest standard to all of our patients.”