Waiting list woes

TWO months ago, the NHS published its ten-year plan to decide how the leviathan will spend huge budget increases.

Health chiefs had pleaded for, and got, £20billion extra a year from ministers to help reduce waiting lists, which have soared by more than half to 4.2million.

Let’s hope they do! In a damning report, the National Audit Office warns the Health Service could end up forking out even more compensation if patients continue to suffer harm during treatment delays. Last year alone, the negligence bill was £600million.

It would be scandalous if lavishly-paid NHS bosses fail to grasp the nettle, and pay-outs for persistent hold-ups still drain precious resources from patient care.