A expensive business...

Figures uncovered by the Tories from FOI requests reveal where the costs of the NHS could be reduced, or resources put to better use.

In 2007/08 Primary Care Trusts spent £1.2 billion on administrators and clerical staff, an increase of 81% on the figure in 2003/04, - a massive increase. The total is now approaching double the £700 million spent on anti-cancer drugs in 2008/09, when some patients were denied drugs because resources were limited.

In addition in 2007/08 £139 million was spent on consultancy fees, almost three times the figure of £53 million in 2003/04.

PCTs are spending £115 million a year on agency staff, - both administrative and clerical, which is more than twice what was spent in 2003/04.

It is ironic that one of the recent of many changes, call them reforms if you are of a generous mind, was to halve the number of PCTs, from 303 to 152, which was to save £250 million a year which could be devoted to front line services. As we have seen, spending has continued to rise inexorably. If the reorganisation did save some expenditure, it means from the above figures that profligacy is even worse that shown in my second paragraph.

These figures do not include the administrative and other costs of London based bureaucrats. Nor do they include the £600 million per year, as they estimated cost of patients not turning up for appointments. There were 6.5 million of these in 2007/08, costing about £100 each. You cannot lay this last at the door of any NHS staff, of course.