Huge waiting lists

In a league table of the areas where the waiting lists were affecting the highest proportion of people, the West Midlands featured prominently.

Out of 20 of the worst hit areas, five were in the region. London has the lowest need relative to the size of the population at just 57 procedures per 1,000 people.

The research found that across the entire West Midlands health network, out of a total population of 5.96 million people, there were:

195,000 awaiting general surgery,

120,253 awaiting orthapaedic surgery

50,008 awaiting urology treatment

39,992 awaiting head and neck surgery

40,578 awaiting ophthalmology treatment

23,771 awaiting for gynaecology procedures

14,331 awaiting cardiology treatment

10,000 awaiting cardiothoracic operations

1,674 awaiting for neurosurgery

19,225 awaiting for plastic surgery