Patients waiting in casualty in Bradford are seen more quickly than the national average.

About 69 per cent of patients at Bradford Royal Infirmary were seen within an hour according to figures compiled by the Audit Commission in 1997 compared to 67 per cent nationally.

The report published today by the public spending watchdog shows waiting times have increased in nearly three-quarters of accident and emergency departments in England and Wales despite an increase in casualty doctors in the last two years.

There are also wide variations in waiting times between similarly busy and equally staffed A & E departments.

BRI Accident and emergency consultant, Mr Tony Shenton, said the average for large hospitals comparable to the infirmary - which has the third busiest casualty department in the country - in fact showed a national average waiting time of 59 per cent.

He said it was likely the proportion seen within an hour had fallen since the study was carried out mainly due to an increase in patients more seriously ill or injured on trolleys.

Staff were always keen to keep waiting times to a minimum and a meeting was planned soon to discuss new measures to reduce waiting.

"There has been a change in the mixture of patients," he said.

"We seem to be seeing slightly more patients on trolleys and comparably fewer walking wounded."

Dr Jonathan Boyce, director of health and social services at the Audit Commission, said improvements in waiting times could be achieved through better deployment of staff.

"There are variations between trusts, and it is a question of using staff more efficiently and monitoring performances and setting targets."

The Department of Health said it was looking for ways to bring down waiting times and more money was being made available including cash this winter to tackle seasonal pressures.

"We recognise that more needs to be done. That is why we have just announced an extra £30 million to improve and streamline A&E facilities and equipment to help provide a faster, better service to patients."

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