More patients treated at Oxfordshire's largest hospital trust are being seen in 18 weeks or less, according to the latest Department of Health figures.

But while the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust is reducing waiting times at its three hospitals, the smaller Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust is struggling to improve.

Although hospitals will not have to officially meet Government targets to see all patients within 18 weeks until December, every organisation is being monitored on its monthly progress towards the goal.

Latest statistics, for November 2007, show 69 per cent of patients waiting to be admitted for treatment at the ORH, responsible for Oxford's John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals, and the Horton, Banbury, were seen within the time limit.

The percentage was a slight increase on the trust's October figures of 62 per cent. The national average is 63 per cent.

The data also showed that 96 per cent of people waiting for an ORH outpatient appointment were seen within 18 weeks, compared to 77 per cent nationally.

At the NOC, in Headington, Oxford, the Department of Health figures showed that only 57 per cent of people waiting to go in for treatment were admitted within 18 weeks - no change since October, while 68 per cent of those waiting for an outpatient consultation saw a specialist within the time limit.