THREE hospital trusts in the region have lost out on a £100,000 Government bonus because they have failed to hit a target aimed at ending long waits in casualty departments.

Six of the nine acute trusts in the North-East and North Yorkshire are treating 97 per cent of patients within four hours of arrival at accident and emergency, the department of health said.

Three trusts - County Dur-ham and Darlington, Gates-head and York - missed the target and the £100,000, to be spent on building improvements.

Now the three have three months to improve performance or face being marked down in the annual NHS hospitals "star ratings".

Only hospitals that achieve top marks in the ratings can apply to win independence from Whitehall control by becoming foundation trusts.

The figures, for the three months to December, show that Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust had the best record, treating 98.5 per cent of patients within four hours.

County Durham and Darlington, which treated 94.3 per cent, is by far the busiest trust. In only three months, its casualty departments saw 34,824 patients.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton said the overall picture was of a huge improvement, from 90 per cent of patients seen within four hours a year ago to 97 per cent now.

She said: "Despite continuing high demand for emergency services, 19 out of 20 people are seen, diagnosed, admitted and treated within four hours in A and E.

"Now trusts that deliver real, significant and sustained improvements are getting financial rewards that match their achievements and help them to carry on improving services and facilities."

Trusts must achieve a final target of 98 per cent of patients treated within four hours, over the three-month period ending next month.

Nationally, casualty departments are busier than ever, with more than 16 million patients seen last year, compared to 13 million in 1992.