HOSPITAL waiting lists in the north west have been blitzed as figures show a fall of 6,007 in just one month.
Frank Dobson, secretary of state for health, congratulated 'each and every member' of NHS staff as the national list, down 39,700, fell to its lowest level since December 1996.
Mr Dobson said: "In our manifesto, we promised that NHS waiting lists would be shorter. They are now shorter.
"NHS staff have made massive efforts, with dedication and skill, to deliver what everyone in the country wants - fewer people on hospital waiting lists.
"We must build on this success and deliver further results on in-patient and out-patient waiting by applying the same targeted efforts that we did to hospital waiting lists."
The North West waiting list now stands at 177,445, a fall of 19,517 since last April.
Mr Dobson added: "Some hospitals have really got to grips with making sure people attend their appointments by sending reminder letters, telephoning them and improving their own administration."
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