A NORTH-EAST health authority has seen waiting lists for surgery soar.

In January, County Durham and Darlington Health Authority failed by 1,215 to meet a target of treating 10,989 patients waiting for day or inpatient surgery.

This is worse than the position in December, when the target was missed by 863.

All six healthcare trusts failed to meet waiting list targets for January, with North Durham the worst offender, missing by 326 patients.