The figures come a week after it was confirmed NHS waiting lists in England were at a record high.

The Welsh figures, prepared by the Government Statistical Service, showed more than 73,000 people were waiting to be admitted to hospital at the end of March - an increase of 4% since the end of December.

The number of people waiting more than one year for hospital admission also rose by 6% to 8,000 by March 31 - one in ten of those on the waiting list. In Newport and Cardiff the figure is almost one in five.

More than 110,000 people were waiting for their first out-patient appointment at the end of March, an increase of 1% over the previous quarter.

However, the number of out-patients waiting over six months fell from 10,900 at the end of December to 9,600, a fall of 12%.

Increase in resources

Welsh Health Minister Win Griffiths said the figures did not yet reflect the big increases in resources provided by the Government over the last 12 months.

Welsh health minister Win Griffiths said huge resources had been pumped into the NHS

"I welcome the reduction in the number of people waiting more than six months for an out-patient appointment, but am disappointed this progress has not been matched by the numbers waiting for admission to hospital," he said.

"Cutting waiting lists can be compared to stopping a super-tanker - it cannot be done quickly."

Last autumn the Welsh Office pledged an extra £60.2 million for health authorities on top of existing budgets, and in November an additional £9.5 million was allocated to enable hospitals to continue functioning despite increased winter emergencies.

In the March Budget Wales secured an extra £25 million, nearly all of which was for cutting waiting lists.

"We are insisting NHS trusts and health authorities set challenging but realistic targets which will be closely monitored," said Mr Griffiths.

"These targets will enable us to achieve the commitment to reduce waiting lists to below the level of May last year."

Figures a 'disgrace'

However Plaid Cymru health spokesman Ieuan Wyn Jones MP said: "The figures are a disgrace. They reflect the totally inadequate funds which are available to the NHS.

"When the Labour Party came to power over a year ago, they promised that waiting lists would be cut - they have obviously broken this pledge.