With Covid cases declining further at Newcastle 's hospitals, the focus is once again on tackling the huge backlog of people waiting for elective hospital procedures in the city.
The latest figures show the number of patients with Covid-19 on wards at the Freeman and the RVI has dropped steadily since mid-January.
Government data shows that on February 1 there were 57 Covid-positive patients there, while chief exec Dame Jackie Daniel has revealed there are "now around 50".
