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Target-obsessed Government to blame for NHS black hole

January 5, 2005 12:00 AM

A £500 million black hole in the NHS is the direct result of a target-obsessed Government, according to 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. It simply is not good enough for Ministers to hide behind unelected and unaccountable NHS managers, leaving them to make the cuts."

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