HARD-PRESSED staff at the accident and emergency department at Trafford General have been praised by health watchdogs, after a 'snapshot' survey.

Trafford Community Health Council says medics were coping admirably despite upheavals in both units.

Trafford General's A and E is in temporary accommodation while the regular base is upgraded.

The CHC was among 180 CHCs throughout the country to carry out spot checks of A and E waiting times at 4.30pm on a Monday afternoon.

During the 'Casualty Watch' at Trafford General there were 10 patients in the waiting room who had been seen by the triage nurse, and they were expecting a wait of about two hours.

Eleven patients - aged between 30 and 84 - were on trolleys in the treatment areas. Three were waiting to be admitted, the rest were at various stages of investigation.

Linda Pepper, the chief officer of Trafford CHC, says: "It was very busy but staff were coping efficiently and effectively. I think that, given the difficulties of being in temporary accommodation and not a purpose built unit, they are doing a marvellous job. We were very pleased."

Both Trafford General and neighbouring Wythenshawe compared favourably with the national picture, which The Association of Community Health Councils described as 'shocking and distressing'. A 71 year-old woman was waiting for nearly 41 hours on a trolley at Harrow.

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