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NHS cancer report 'buried by government'

26/08/2008

A report showing the NHS' internal market was discouraging investment in new technology and undermining quality cancer services was "buried" by the government, the Liberal democrats have claimed.

The Department of Health report was finalised in May of this year, but the government did not publish it until the August 8th, the opening day of the Beijing Olympics.

"The health secretary is probably too busy worrying about the leadership of the Labour party to pay proper attention to the warnings in the report about the damage being wrought in the NHS," said Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat health spokesman.

"What other explanation could there be for sitting on the report for three months and only publishing it on a quiet Friday when most people are on holiday?"

The report found the system of payment by results – effectively the currency of the NHS - actually lost hospitals which treat patients requiring complex operations money.

"The government is effectively penalising hospitals for providing specialist care," Mr Lamb added.

"Ministers claim that payment by result is rewarding efficiency, but this report shows that it risks distorting clinical decisions about who to treat and whether to invest in new and improved technologies."