Blame NHS pen-pushers

wHeTHeR or not the photograph of the boy lying on the floor in leeds Hospital because there were not

enough trolleys or beds was staged or not, it’s time more light was shed on one reason for the NHS bed shortage that escapes scrutiny.

Twenty years ago hospital trusts started to view themselves as ‘ businesses’. Having 100 per cent bed occupancy looked better on spreadsheets than 75 per cent — even though the latter provided a welcome safety net.

Accordingly beds and wards were cut to achieve that at every opportunity.

The floor space released tended to become offices for the army of pen-pushers who may be more responsible than anyone for the failure of NHS funding. As the proverb says: ‘A fish rots from the head.’

A flight of fancy on my part? No. I struggled to confront such issues as a ward sister/ manager. And I suggest that’s just one elephant in the room when it comes to the reasons for the failings in the NHS. JEANNETTETANNER, Sleaford,