WAITING times at a Swansea accident and emergency department are getting worse, says a patient watchdog

Figures show that during December a total of 91.48 per cent were seen at Morriston Hospital's A&E unit within four hours.

The target set by the Welsh Government is that 95 per cent of patients should be seen within four hours and 99 per cent of patients within eight hours.

Alex Howells, director of primary, community and mental health services, at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, at its Swansea Civic Centre meeting, said: "A&E times are unfortunately deteriorating following the improvement we made at the start of the year.

"We have made an improvement in January.

"The weather plan which was discussed by the board in the past meeting has helped to improve the situation but has not provided the solution.

"We have had days where patients have waited too long for emergency care.

"We have to make sure we are in a stronger position."

Figures from the report which went before Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board underlined during last December that 91.48 per cent of patients were seen in four hours and 96.98 per cent were seen within eight hours.

Performance for the same time in December 2010 was 81.45 per and 93.12 per cent respectively.

Originally, investment in the department led to improved patient waiting times.

Morriston Hospital was consistently the worst in Wales for failing to hit the four hour target, set by the Cardiff Bay administration.

Figures for last March show a total of 85 per cent of people were seen within four hours, compared to 76 per cent in February.

At the time, Mrs Howells said work was being carried out to bring in an A&E consultant, along with appointing a chief nurse.

Work also got under way at the end of June last year on a £5.6 million plan to improve the department.

As part of the scheme, work was carried out to extend the front of the department to create a rapid assessment area directly off the ambulance bay, allowing patients arriving by ambulance to be assessed more quickly.

A side extension was also designed to improve and enlarge the patient waiting area and reception and create a more visible walk in entrance for patients.

The work also saw extra cubicles and more paediatric facilities to create more space within the department.

A total of more than £1 million has been invested in new doctors, nurses and other staff to ensure a high quality of care is provided to all patients, and enable reduced waiting times in the department.

elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk