PATIENTS with Bolton Community Healthcare Trust are being seen more quickly -- but a new report admits medical staff are still overburdened.

The percentage of patients seen by the trust's doctors or nurses has increased to 85pc in the last financial year from 83pc the previous year.

And the number seen within 26 weeks rose from 90pc to 95pc over the same period.

But the trust's annual report concedes that longer than necessary waiting times can cause distress and puts difficulties down to its strained resources.

The document says: "Some patients are experiencing waiting times that are longer than we would wish, and this is obviously a concern.

"The reason for this is that the demand for some of our services outweighs the resources we have available.

"This means that clinicians are faced with the extremely difficult task of prioritising referrals to ensure those who are deemed to have the highest level of clinical need receive a service first.

"We know that this causes great anxiety and frustration to patients, their families and carers, and to GPs."

The report notes, however, that the trust has improved its overall performance to come close to meeting ideal standards set out in the Government's Patient Charter.

A total of 846,000 patients were seen between April 1999 and April 2000, up 61,500 from last year and around 45,000 more than the trust has planned for.

The number of complaints the trust received fell almost a third from 74 in 1998/99 to 46 in the latest figures. During that time 95 complimentary letters were also received, mostly about district nurses.

Overall the trust employed 957 people, an increase of 78 from the previous year's figure.

Chief executive Patrick Wallace said: "This year has been a fruitful one. We will continue to do all that we can to use our skill, experience and knowledge for the maximum benefit of the people of Bolton."