HEALTH services in the region are among the best in the country, according to regional NHS bosses.
The annual report of NHS North East, the new name for the North-East Strategic Health Authority, shows that between April last year and March, all targets to reduce waiting times were met or exceeded.
No patient waited more than 13 weeks for an outpatient appointment or six months for an operation - and no patient waited more than three months for a heart by-pass.
North-East hospitals saw or treated more than 98 per cent of accident and emergency patients within four hours, despite pressures from high levels of emergency admissions.
The report also said that across the region, cancer patients have fast access to treatment with more than 98 per cent of patients starting treatment within 31 days of being diagnosed and more than 95 per cent treated within 62 days of referral to hospital.
Ian Dalton, chief executive of NHS North East, said: "Our latest annual report shows the North-East is one of the best performing regions in the country.
"Local health services continue to improve year on year, to provide higher quality care."
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