THE NHS has announced a decrease of more than one per cent in waiting lists in hospitals across the South East.

The total number of people waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals in the region fell by 2,233 between the end of January and the end of February this year.

The overall waiting list in the area now stands at 195,397.

The South East region contributed the largest fall to the overall reduction in the number of people waiting for treatment across England.

Bob Ricketts, NHS Executive South East Regional Director of Performance, said: "This is very good news.

"The year-on-year figures show that there have been significant reductions in the number of people waiting for treatment.

"At the end of February 2000, the total number of people waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals in the South East stood at 199,991.

"This February, over 4,500 fewer people are waiting.

"The overall progress in the South East reflects the great deal of hard work by clinicians and managers."

But Mr Ricketts was critical of Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust, which had 97 patients of a regional total of 111 patients waiting for more than 18 months for treatment.

The number of people still waiting for a date for their operation or an appointment in an outpatient clinic over this time period is now down to 27.

He said: "In the case of Stoke Mandeville, the breaches of the maximum waiting time, as set out in the Patients' Charter, were due to unacceptable mismanagement of waiting lists.

"An action plan to ensure that all patients who have been affected by this are treated as quickly as possible is being finalised.

"Arrangements are being made to make sure that new systems are put in place to prevent this happening again."

Lynda Atkins, director of operations at the hospital, said: "I am pleased we have been able to report such good progress.

"It is the result of a huge amount of hard work."