New Labour has an abiding tendency to make everything a target and think no further than the next headline. Sadly, if everything is a target, then nothing is a target!

   It is not the hospital that is failing us but the government simply laying out inappropriate targets, surely all that matters is that hospitals save lives.

   I have read many of our MP's Letters from Parliament". He constantly talks up Labour's investment in public services and the extra spending on the National Health Service. Sadly, the avoidable deaths of 90 elderley people within 2 years must rank as one of the most disgraceful episodes in the history of the NHS and, worse still, on this Government's watch! The result- not the slightest trace of humility just an abominable refusal to even consider their policies may be a significant contributory factor! Even the Head of the Healthcare Commission says Labour's culture of targets interferes with proper clinical decision making. Not to worry! Despite failing to meet many national MINIMUM standards, the Health Trust responsible for running Heywood's hospital services has a chance to improve to "good" next year! Well, that's OK then! In the meantime, there appears to be no accountability and little possibility of resignations! Our MP should be screaming from the roof about the results of this watchdog report for our area! It is to be hoped that "Bottler" Brown's heartfelt promise to "deep clean" every hospital-ward by ward- will help increase the performance of all hospitals up to the standard of the "best" by next year! In the event you should need the services of the Pennine Acute Trust in the next 12 months, good luck!