Waiting lists moved further away from government targets again last month. Figures released by the Department of Health show the number of pat ients waiting to be admitted to hospital rose by 3,500 or 0.3 per cent from the end of April to the end of May and now stand at 1,096,100. The number of people waiting more than 12 months for treatment also rose by 200 or 0.5 per cent to 48,300. The DoH pointed out that the total number of people waiting was still 213,000 lower than at the end of May last year.

NHS Waiting Lists and Activity Figures: 31 May 1999 . www.doh.gov.uk/dhhome.htm