Patients are being treated sooner at Croydon University Hospital, with nearly 95 percent of patients waiting less than the national 18 week target.

The accident and emergency teams are exceeding the national performance targets set for seeing critically ill patients, with the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for planned care falling considerably since April.

NHS England figures show about 94.7 percent of patients are waiting less than 18 weeks for their first treatment, with an average wait of 15.3 weeks from the date of their referral.

The improvement has seen the Trust go from being among the worst performing in the country to being rated 87 out of 200 Trusts nationally.

John Goulston, chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said: "Waiting times is one of the first things patients notice about the quality of care they receive, so these latest figures are hugely encouraging.

"It is particularly important as it covers all patients on any waiting list and means we have made significant improvements in all services across the Trust."