Bradford's performance in tackling hospital waiting lists was the second worst in the country, an analysis by the T&A has revealed.

Detailed examination of figures for waiting lists in November has shown Bradford was one of only six health authorities in the country to record a rise in waiting lists - up by 93 from October to 12,245.

The district was only behind the Isle of Wight - where waiting lists rose by 190 - in its performance.

The remaining 94 health authorities in England recorded a drop in numbers of patients on waiting lists for non-urgent operations, including every other district in the Yorkshire.

Most of Bradford's rise was accounted for by the waiting lists at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital. Figures in Airedale had dropped.

The increase leaves Bradford still well short of its target to bring waiting lists down to 10,895 by March.

The situation has been worsened by the cancellation of all non-urgent surgery in Leeds due to the flu bug, although routine operations under waiting list initiatives in the Bradford area are still going ahead.

Ann Wagner, director of performance management at Bradford Health Authority, who held talks today with Bradford hospital staff to review the waiting list position, said any rise was a cause for concern.

There had been 400 more referrals to hospitals in Bradford than expected.

Discussions were underway to try to deal with the situation in coming months to put the waiting list initiative back on course.

"Reducing waiting lists and treatment times remains the top priority for Bradford Health Authority," she said.

"As a district we have been set one of the most demanding waiting list reduction targets in the country.

"We remain committed to achieving these targets, having made arrangements for unprecedented levels of activity in 1998-99.''

She said they had reduced the number of people waiting more than 12 months for treatment.

This had fallen significantly from 976 in November 1997 to 559 a year later.

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