THE number of patients awaiting treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital has continued to rise for the third month in succession.

Latest figures for February show 5,236 patients were waiting for treatment last month, a rise of 100 on the previous month's figures.

The rise, fuelled by the cancellation of hundreds of minor operations to make way for an large influx of emergency admissions over the winter months, means that hospital bosses will not be able to meet their financial year end target of 4,522 by April.

A report to directors shows that Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, which runs Princess Margaret Hospital, has been focussing its efforts on reducing the number of long waiters on its lists.

As a result, only nine inpatients and day case patients waited more than 15 months at the end of February, against a Government target of 10.

And the Trust has been able to ensure there are no patients who have waited longer than 18 months.

Despite the overall rise in waiting lists, winter pressures appear to be thawing, with the number of emergency patients falling by 339 patients in February on the previous month, with 1,992 being admitted.

And the number of people being cared for on trolleys was almost halved last month, with January's figure of 411 being cut down to 252.

The figures will be discussed at a meeting of the trust board at PMH, due to take place today (Friday).