LABOUR has revealed figures showing that more than half a million North-West patients are currently on hospital waiting lists./

Its leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded the Government to introduce a coronavirus 'circuit break' to drive down Covid-19 transmissions and ensure the region's NHS is equipped for the winter.

The party's statistical analysis shows that there are 560,690 people in the North-West on waiting lists for treatment, with 53 per cent waiting over 18 weeks.

It also revealed that 42 per cent of patients (78,914) are waiting more than six weeks for crucial diagnostic tests – compared to just two per cent of patients in February - while 24.1 per cent of cancer patients waiting over 62 days for treatment.

Sir Keir said: "We need a circuit break and I urge the government to listen to the science.”