Waiting times at two hospitals have been slashed for the first time in four years.

Staff at the accident and emergency departments at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford managed to see, treat and discharge 95.6 per cent patients within four hours during the month of July.

Last month, health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) criticised Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT), which runs both sites, for "persistently failing" to meet the 95 per cent target.

Despite making "significant progress" in some areas, the CQC decided to keep the trust in special measures due to the long A&E waiting times, a shortage of nurses and doctors, and concerns over the quality of investigations.

The latest improvement in A&E has been largely put down to changes in working practices, such as expanding medical assessment units, focusing on outpatient care and opening an Elders Receiving Unit and observation ward.

Consultant, Ayo Ahonkai, said: "This is a huge achievement for the organisation, and something that we could only do by working as a team.

"We are so pleased that patients are seeing the benefits.

"There is such a positive atmosphere in our emergency departments now, not just amongst our patients, but also amongst staff.

"Now we will be working hard to sustain this performance so that our patients continue to receive the fast, safe service they deserve."