THE number of patients in the region waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals has risen in the past year, Government figures have revealed.
The number of people waiting has consistently hovered above the 120,000 mark for the past 12 months.
In January, there was in increase of more than 3,057 people waiting to be seen in North East hospitals, compared to the same time last year.
The waiting list in the Northern and Yorkshire region now stands at 125,420.
In one month alone, the number waiting rose by 1,108, from December 2001 to January 2002.
North Durham Health Care, City Hospitals Sunderland and Scarborough and North-East Yorkshire were among the trusts hit hardest during the period.
Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox described the statistics as a "major blow to Tony Blair and Health Secretary Alan Milburn".
There was some good news for the region though.
The number of patients waiting longer than 12 months to be seen halved during the year.
Compared to January 2001 figures, this year has seen a fall of 1,258 people.
Three trusts - Northallerton Health Services, County Durham and Darlington, and Tees and North-East Yorkshire - had nobody on the 12-month waiting list.
No North-East hospital showed anyone remaining on the waiting list for more than 15 months
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