Sign up for the latest from M.E.N. political editor Jennifer Williams Health leaders are encouraging the government to go further with extra funding to help clear the NHS backlog caused by the coronavirus pandemic as billions of pounds of new money was described as a good first step.
Officials warned on Monday that waiting lists could reach up to 13 million people for routine operations such as hip replacements and cataract surgery.
It came as the government pledged to give the NHS an extra £5.4 billion over the next six months to help tackle the backlog caused by the pandemic and continue the response to coronavirus.