HEALTH bosses are struggling to meet the government's 18-week waiting time targets.

NHS trusts in Bolton and Manchester were among 16 which volunteered to treat more than 90 per cent of patients within 18 weeks by the end of last year - a year before the target came into force across the rest of the country.

Department of Health figures show almost a third of people in Bolton and 40 per cent of patients in Manchester who needed admitting to hospital were breaching the target in November, with just a month to go before their deadlines.

Bolton bosses say staff worked through evenings and weekends to ensure they met the December target but Manchester's waiting times were below the national average in November and managers are still working out their figures for the end of the year.

Many of the region's other trusts also appear set to struggle to meet 18-week waiting time targets for at least 85 per cent of patients by the end of March but health chiefs say waiting times have been slashed across Greater Manchester.

A spokeswoman for Manchester Primary Care Trust said: "These figures show we are performing better than the national average for non-admitted patients.

"Admitted patients are more of a challenge."

Some of the region's other trusts also need to make major improvements if they are to meet targets to start treating 85 per cent of patients who need to be admitted an 90 per cent of those who don't need an overnight stay within 18 weeks by the end of March.

Salford, Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, and Trafford treated less than 60 per cent of patients who needed overnight care within the target time.