WAITING times for patients in north Devon are among the best in the country — the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has the shortest waiting times in the South of England, according to a new report from the King's Fund think-tank.

The performance, against a backdrop of rising demand, with emergency admissions up 29% from July 2007 to July 2012, is highlighted in an analysis of urgent and emergency care in the south of England.

Drawing on data for the year ending August 2012, it shows that northern Devon was better than any of the other 35 acute trusts at providing rapid treatment for people on waiting lists.

A total of 95.4% of patients who required admission to hospital went on to have their treatment within 18 weeks of referral by their GP. The lowest proportion in the south of England was 85.6%.

And 99.6% of patients who did not require admission went on to have their treatment within 18 weeks. The lowest proportion across the South was 89.4%.

The trust, which runs Okehampton Community Hospital, North Devon District Hospital and a string of community hospitals, was also best in south England when it came to providing rapid treatment for patients at A&E or minor injury units.

Dr Alison Diamond, medical director, said: 'Staff across the trust have worked extremely hard to make sure we keep treating people promptly, whether they're on the waiting list for an operation or they come through the front door at A&E or one of our MIUs.

'It's about providing the right care for patients — and early diagnosis leads to better treatment and recovery.

'It hasn't been easy, given the pressure from a 29% increase in emergency admissions over five years, but we hope it's been worthwhile for the thousands of people who have benefited.'