Cold weather meant the goal of 95% of A&E patients being seen within four hours was missed last week for the 18th week in succession The number of patients waiting for more than four hours in English NHS casualty departments went up last week as snow and cold weather pushed up A&E attendances. Some 92.3% of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within the target time – down from last week’s 93% and the 18th week in succession that the goal of 95% has been missed – according to figures released by NHS England.