BOLTON Royal Hospital's Accident and Emergency department achieved the national target of treating 96 per cent of patients within four hours.

Staff, in August, saw 98.1 per cent of patients within four hours and all patients who were admitted to the hospital were found a bed within four hours.

In July, 94.1 per cent of patients were seen within four hours.

During August, there were 582 emergency admissions of patients aged 75 and over at the Royal Bolton Hospital, a six per cent decrease on the month before.

Of these, 110 patients were re-admitted - 5.8 per cent higher than the year before.