the prime minister has admitted it will be difficult to keep his promise to cut hospital waiting lists in england saying that industrial action by nhs staff had made the situation worse. but the doctors union described that as a cheap shot . more than 7.5 million people are now waiting for an appointement the highest number since records began. just under 400,000 have been waiting for more than a year. meanwhile the nhs in england is getting an extra £200 million to help it cope with the usual winter pressures though that s just a tiny fraction of its budget. here s our health editor, hugh pym. no time to say hi, so i ll say thanks, thanks, thanks. you guys do a smashing job. in a hurry to tell staff about new money for the nhs. someone else is going to have to do this. the prime minister was at north devon district hospital announcing plans to cope with winter pressures. in the south west of england services last winter were under severe strain with long ambulance d