TARGETS for A&E waiting times and patient operation cancellations were missed by the Royal Bolton Hospital in January – the month a "major incident" was declared there.

January saw the foundation trust twice fail to achieve its target that patients who have their operation cancelled on the day are offered another date within 28 days.

The breaches were blamed on the emergency pressures the trust experienced in January.

Targets for 95 per cent of patients waiting in A&E to be seen within four hours were also failed – with 86 of patients having treatment within this time.

The CCG’s performance report states: “Although there have been ongoing pressures across Greater Manchester, Bolton has not seen the increased levels of performance which most other areas have.

“Bolton Foundation Trust has submitted a detailed action plan to improve performance.

“The CCG has been clear with the trust that they must plan to achieve performance improvement to at least the national 95 per cent target.”

The CCG’s six-week diagnosis targets were also failed in January – with this blamed on breaches in endoscopy at the foundation trust.

It is also expected the CCG will fail its targets for February due to the larger than expected number of endoscopies – when tubes with cameras are inserted into the body – needed to be carried out.

The performance report adds: “The FT has put on additional capacity and is forecasting achievement of the target from March onwards.”

Stroke targets at the trust were also missed, with 60 per cent of patients admitted to a designated stroke bed within four hours, compared to the target of 80 per cent.