HEALTH watchdogs are to meet hospital bosses after figures today showed that older people are waiting almost an hour longer in casualty departments than younger people.

A nationwide snapshot of 200 hospital accident and emergency units showed a big disparity in waiting times depending on age, according to the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (ACHCEW).

In the North West the average waiting time spent in casualty was two hours and 50 minutes for all patients, compared to more than three-and-a-half hours for the over-60s.

The chief officer for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, Nigel Robinson, said that although he was not aware of a particular problem in Blackburn he was concerned at the disparity.

He added: "As far as I am aware there is not a major problem in Blackburn, although staff are under increasing pressure because of the numbers of people going through casualty departments.

"Staff have got to make decisions in terms of priority and some young people are waiting for a long time as well as older people.

"Having said that I am very concerned and will be meeting with the chief executive of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, John Thomas, to discuss the situation."

Health policy officer at Help the Aged, Jonathan Ellis, added: "We are saddened and disappointed to see that older people continue to be waiting for prolonged periods in the accident and emergency departments.

"This inequity must be addressed as a matter of urgency."

ACHCEW's director, Donna Covey, said: "These figures are a cause for serious concern. It's not clear why older people are spending so much more time in A&E departments than younger patients. There is a clear need for further investigation into this issue."