STAFF at Forth Valley Royal hospital received praise after outperforming their A&E target earlier this month.

The hospital is required to see, admit or discharge 95 per cent of patients in the emergency department within four hours.

On the week ending June 11, according to figures from ISD, the health establishment achieved the target in 95.1 per cent of cases with the number for the whole of Scotland standing at 95.3 per cent.

Local MSP Keith Brown praised the hard-working staff after the statistics were released last week and said: “Scotland has had the best performing emergency departments in the UK for more than two years – which is testament to the hard work of our NHS and social care workers in Forth Valley and across the country.

“We have seen a steady reduction in average waits over the last few weeks, and it is enormously encouraging that these weekly statistics show performance above the four hour standard.”

A number of factors can affect performances week by week, including the weather which can increase or decrease the number of patients visiting hospitals.

The SNP politician added: “Performance always fluctuates from week to week, and the challenge now is to ensure that we maintain this target on a consistent basis.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard our NHS staff in Forth Valley work and how committed they are to providing what is a vital service.

“I will always value the work done by our NHS staff – and we should all celebrate their success.”