Accident and emergency departments are dealing with patients more quickly but not fast enough to meet Government targets, new figures have revealed.

About 82 per cent of patients visiting casualties in Brighton and Haywards Heath are seen, treated and moved on within four hours.

The result is an improvement on the 53 per cent recorded at the start of the year but the hospitals have not managed to hit the Government's 90 per cent target.

The four-hour wait is one of the indicators in the annual hospital star ratings, so missing the target could affect Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust's drive to achieve two stars when the ratings are published this summer.

Oliver Philips, deputy director of performance management, said: "There has been a continuing improvement throughout the year and the figure is rising but overall, the 90 per cent has not been reached."

Staff at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, have been working on improving the way patients are assessed and treated as moves to improve waiting times.

Changes include introducing a fast-track system for people with minor injuries who are assessed by a nurse practitioner or another senior nurse who can treat them and give advice.

Patients with minor problems are the ones who often wait longer as seriously ill or injured people will take priority.

The other problem is, once a decision is made to admit a patient to hospital, they may have to wait some time for a bed to be found.

This is mainly due to delays caused by bed-blocking patients who are ready to leave but have to wait until a nursing or care home bed is found for them.

The four-hour target has been criticised by opposition MPs and leading doctors because they say it does not take into account that some patients may have to wait for tests or stay in the department while their condition is being monitored.