Executive admits failure on NHS

For those who advocate a national health plan in the United States, here is yet another example that it doesn't work.

MINISTERS have admitted for the first time that Scottish NHS hospitals are delivering less to patients while costing taxpayers more.

Scottish Executive health officials bluntly concede in a report to go before MSPs this week that the billions of pounds of extra cash pumped into hospitals has not led to an increase in clinical activity.

Ministers have ploughed an extra £4bn into the NHS since devolution, an unprecedented investment designed to address the service's problems, including waiting lists and dirty hospitals.

Critics contend much of the cash has been spent on extra bureaucracy, increased salaries and on the spiralling cost of drugs.