The number of patients on the NHS waiting list in England rose by 14,200 last December, according to figures from the Department of Health that spoiled a recent run of steady monthly reductions in the queue.

Sir Nigel Crisp, the NHS chief executive, said it was a seasonal blip in the run up to Christmas, when hospitals reduce their operating schedules to leave spare capacity for winter emergencies.

The number waiting more than nine months rose by 400 to just over 35,000 at the end of December, but hospitals will give priority to clearing these cases in the next three months. A year ago the figure was 86,700.

"We are on track to meet the March targets of no one waiting more than nine months for inpatient admission, or 17 weeks for a first outpatient appointment," Sir Nigel said.