North Cumbria's two main hospitals have welcomed national figures that show better than average waiting times in A&E.

The latest national assessment of hospitals across the country suggests that The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital have been steadily improving.

North Cumbria University Hospitals, which runs the two hospitals, has been ranked 52nd in a national league table of 138 NHS hospital trusts for its A&E wait times.

Its overall performance for meeting A&E waiting times – which should see at least 95 per cent of patients treated, admitted or discharged within four hours – was was 88.6%.

The national average was 85.0%. Local health chiefs say the figures demonstrate continuous improvement for North Cumbria, since in January the trust was 96th in the national league table for meeting A&E waiting times.

Stephen Eames, chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I continue to be hugely encouraged by the national data as it is showing a clear month on month improvement.

"This is testament to the continued hard work and commitment our staff demonstrate on a daily basis.

“The data also clearly reflects the continued challenges all Trusts are facing up and down the country.

“Many people may say this is simply just a set of figures but what they mean is that more people in our local communities are receiving timely care which is extremely important.

"I am delighted to be able to share the news today that real improvements are continuing to be made in our hospitals.”

Last month, 18 retired consultants took the unusual step of speaking publicly about their concerns for the future of The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

The group of consultants said they were "extremely concerned" about the situation at the Cumberland Infirmary - and warned it will never be resolved without a dramatic increase in finances.

In a letter to The Cumberland News, the group said problems are a knock on effect of year-on-year funding cuts and calls for "high-level political intervention".

The News & Star has recently revealed there have been six so-called never events in north Cumbria's hospitals since July - five in theatres.

In one incident, a patient died at the infirmary after being transferred from Whitehaven. North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is currently in special measures after inspectors found it to be failing.