The money is to be spent on capital programmes

Torbay Hospital is getting £100,000 as part of a new government scheme.

The Health Secretary John Reid launched the incentive scheme in February, with the aim of improving the speed at which patients are seen in A&E departments.

Torbay has achieved its first target of getting 94% of its patients seen, treated, and admitted or discharged within four hours of arrival.

'Pulling together'

If it continues to achieve its targets it could get an extra £500,000 in bonuses by the end of the year.

Clinical Director of Emergency Services at Torbay Hospital, Dr Graham Gardner said: "This is all about the services across the hospital pulling together.

"We can see and assess patients quickly in A&E, but we depend on the wards to free up beds for patients who need admitting, and we rely on colleagues across the specialties, including radiology and pathology, to help speed decisions about whether patients need admitting or not."

The money is for capital programmes and the hospital is now consulting among staff as to how the £100,000 bonus should be spent.