Airedale Hospital was able to see and treat 95 per cent of its A&E patients within four hours during the first two quarters of the financial year.

Director of operations Christine Miles told the foundation trust board this was in line with national targets but warned it was becoming harder to reach the standard.

She pointed to the increasing number of patients coming to A&E, including larger numbers of elderly people with complex health requirements.

“Levels of demand are unpredictable,” she said. “The last two days were fairly quiet in the evenings at A&E, but a week ago we were bursting at the seams.”