Though some hospitals are performing even better than they are required to but in many of other hospitals the position is bad than the worst as the patients have to wait even longer than 18 weeks as were referred by their GPs.

The worst condition is cited in about a third of trusts, which are failing to treat 90% of their patients within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP. Moreover, according to the reports from BBC the data for April shows that 51 trusts breaching waiting time limits as compared to 26 trusts a year ago.

But fortunately, NHS is still meeting its target, the credit of which goes to those hospitals that are performing even better than they are required to. The efforts of these hospitals highlighted that averagely, 90.5% patients across England are seen within the time limit.

Among the worst performing area are Hastings and Rother in Sussex, where more than a quarter of patients have to wait longer than 18 weeks. The most acute problems in this regard are occurring in London, the south-east, the south coast and north-west.

Despite Andrew Lansley, The Health Secretary's announcement of the 18-week limit as an official target last year, no improvements have been cited in many hospitals.