The government has set a target that no one should wait longer than six months for an operation

The Department of Health statistics also show no patient in England is now waiting more than a year for their operation.

The total number waiting for an operation stood at 826,300 at the end of May, down 67,800 since May 2004.

But opposition parties said the statistics did not show the "hidden waits" for diagnostic tests.

The average waiting time for treatment is too long Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley

The official figures also show 17 patients had been waiting longer than nine months for their operation.

The number waiting more than six months for treatment increased by 4,200 to a total of 49,600.

The government has said that, by December, no patient in England will wait more than six months for an operation - and says it is on track to meet this target.

Targets 'crude'

Ministers have said using the private sector to carry out an extra 1.7 million operations for the NHS over the next five years, at a cost of �3 billion, will help them to meet their waiting list targets.

But unions and doctors' leaders have expressed concern that increased use of the private sector will destabilise the NHS, diverting much-needed funding elsewhere.

Health minister Lord Warner said: "The NHS is making excellent progress on speeding up access to treatment - there are 67,800 fewer patients waiting than this time last year and the waiting list has been at an historic low."

He added: "We will continue to build up NHS capacity to make sure that all patients have their operations as quickly as possible.

"By the end of this year no one will wait longer than six months and by 2008 no one will wait longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to operation."

Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "These figures do not tell the full story, with thousands of people stuck on hidden waiting lists.

"People waiting for a diagnosis sometimes languish for more than a year before they even get on the official waiting list."

He added: "These figures show that the NHS faces a serious uphill struggle to meet the target of no-one waiting over six months."

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "While I welcome the reduction in numbers waiting a very long time for treatment, the average waiting time for treatment is too long, and there are unacceptable disparities in waits across the country.

"Increased capacity, giving the independent sector a right to supply, and giving patients real choice will be essential to deliver shorter waiting times without distorting clinical priorities and the management of infection control."