The number of patients waiting for more than four hours in A&E has more than trebled, according to NHS England data.

A total of 706 patients waited in A&E at London North West Healthcare NHS Trust hospitals – including Northwick Park - for more than four hours in during the second week of April.

In comparison, only 287 patients were kept waiting for the same length of time during the same week last year.

The number of patients who waited on a trolley for a ward bed for between four and 12 hours increased from 68 to 337 patients across the same period.

Tina Benson, director of operations, said: “There are occasions when we receive an influx of acutely unwell patients who require one to one care, ensuring they are cared for safely can lead to delays in the emergency department.

"Since the winter we have been making real progress in reducing the numbers of patients waiting more than four hours by improving clinical processes across the trust.

"An additional 63 beds are currently being built at Northwick Park Hospital to increase capacity and we are reviewing how we can make better use of our community beds.”

The government NHS target is 95 per cent of patients to be seen, treated, dismissed or admitted within four hours, yet hospitals around the country are increasingly failing to meet this expectation.

Uma Kumaran, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Harrow East, said: “These figures confirm what many people are already feeling about the extent of the A&E crisis in Harrow.

“A&E waiting times at Northwick Park Hospital have become the worst in the country and it’s become harder and harder to see your GP.”