article_snippet: A new report by Nuffield Trust said an 'undue' focus on the national target can 'distort' behaviour inside hospitals 'in ways that are not in the interests of patients or staff'.
article_snippet: Focus on the national target can mean a significant amount of time is spent by staff reporting up the chain to those who commission healthcare, and regulators, with a potentially detrimental impact on the quality of care.
article_snippet: But authors of the Nuffield Trust report argue that while the four-hour target has 'played an important part in improving patients' experiences', it is just one part of a complex system of urgent care.
article_snippet: the Nuffield Trust report argues a set of 'richer performance indicators' should be considered alongside the weekly waiting time performance figures.
article_snippet: The chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Mark Porter, agreed, adding the four-hour wait has become 'disproportionate'.
article_snippet: Responding to the Nuffield Trust briefing, The chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Mark Porter said: 'Doctors want to treat patients on the basis of Doctors individual need, rather than an arbitrary target. '
article_snippet: Moving away from a system that prioritises targets above all else to one which takes a wider view of how services are performing would improve the quality of patient care by preventing rushed admissions, or leaving those most in need waiting longer for treatment.
article_snippet: the authors of the Nuffield Trust report said: 'The four-hour target has played an important part in improving patients' experiences of care at A&E. '
article_snippet: Before The four-hour target was introduced, 12-hour waits were not uncommon.'
article_snippet: Unlike other NHS waiting times, this is not the length of time a person waits before they are treated.
article_snippet: the authors recommend policy makers should take a longer-term and broader view of performance in A&E, introducing a more complex set of indicators to sit alongside the four-hour waiting target. '
highlights_snippet: briefing says 'undue' focus has been placed on the four-hour waiting time target .
  
highlights_snippet: Argues Argues 'distorts' behaviour 'in ways not in the interest of patients'
  Report reveals four-hour target was last achieved in England in July 2013 .
  
highlights_snippet: Think tank argues target is 'essential' but must be considered alongside a 'richer set of performance indicators' to ward off The A&E 'Crisis' .