Target-Obsessed Government to Blame for NHS Black Hole

12.23.39am GMT Sun 9th Jan 2005

A £500 million black hole in the NHS is the direct result of a target-obsessed Labour Government, say the Liberal Democrats.

Responding to a report in the Health Service Journal, which reveals the black hole, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said:

"It is time Ministers told the truth about the state of NHS finances. Every year Ministers go though the charade of telling the public that the books balance when on the ground services are being cut, treatment delayed and operations cancelled.

"The financial pressures on the NHS are a direct result of this Government's obsession with setting targets that distort local priorities. It's time Ministers opened the books so all can see just how serious the financial problems really are."

Chris Coleman, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Forest of Dean, added:

"It is simply not good enough for New Labour Ministers to hide behind unelected and unaccountable NHS managers, leaving them to make the cuts. They must start to tell people the truth and focus on funding the NHS properly. We are fully committed to the NHS."