Patients will lose out from hospitals chasing absurd targets - Lamb

9.46.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 17th Jan 2007

Commenting on the BMA report on waiting times in Accident and Emergency departments, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:

"The Government cannot persist with the ludicrous claim that reducing beds does not damage patient care.

"Absurd government targets mean that patients in A&E are often shunted off to inappropriate wards or are kept waiting in corridors due to lack of beds.

"The combination of the Government's obsession with targets and crippling NHS deficits is damaging patient care and demoralising the dedicated professionals working in the NHS.

"How can hospitals already at financial breaking point be expected to chase targets while trying to dig themselves out of the cycle of debt imposed by Labour's Alice in Wonderland accounting rules?

"It is patients who will lose out in the struggle between hitting targets and achieving financial balance, as hospitals will face no option but to cut vital services."

Applicability: this item refers to England and Wales. Due to devolution, detailed policy may be different in other areas of the UK.