Local Liberal Democrats have slammed the Labour Government for failing to tackle waiting times at the Royal Hospital's accident and emergency department, after it was revealed that the hospital has the second worst record in the country.

According to official figures 2,775 patients spent longer than four hours in the hospital's casualty department this winter.

The hospital told the Liverpool Echo that a 9% increase in patient numbers in the last five years, winter bugs and socio-economic problems, like poverty and a high crime rate, all put extra pressure on the hospital.