Latest figures show that in the three months ending March 31, there was a 12% drop in cancelled operations - down by 1,914 to 14,460.

This is the largest drop in cancelled operations of any quarter since figures were collated.

Hospitals have also cut the number of times that patients whose operations have been cancelled have had to wait more than a month for readmission.

However, there were still 2,326 occasions when hospitals failed to meet this Patient's Charter standard.

Baroness Jay: "The NHS' hard work is matched by our commitment"

Health minister Baroness Jay said: "These figures show that the combination of extra cash and NHS graft is benefiting patients by sharpening NHS performance.

"When we came to office our top priority was to avoid another winter crisis. We put an extra £300 million into the NHS to make it happen.

Right direction

"So it is heartening to see these figures going in the right direction, after they had reached record levels in 1996.

"Cancelled operations mean further worry for patients, wasted effort for hospitals and do nothing to help staff morale. The levels are still high, but these falls do mean NHS staff are finding better ways of working to provide the best possible health care for everyone.

"The figures show that the NHS is working harder than ever to clear waiting lists while dealing with record casualty work."

Baroness Jay added that over the last three months there were two per cent rises in both hospital treatments and A&E first attendances. These were on top of a two per cent rise in new referrals seen in hospital outpatients clinics.