HEALTH managers today reacted to a Government order to drastically cut out-patient waiting lists by insisting: "We need more money."

New targets show the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health trust is expected to reduce the number of patients waiting for hospital appointments for more than 13 weeks from 1,073 to just 66 by March.

Burnley Health Trust has an even bigger task, ordered to slash its list by nearly 2,000 patients to 1,312.

A report to East Lancashire Health Authority says the targets are "particularly challenging".

Although Blackburn is on track to meet demands, Burnley is slipping behind and has been ordered to report its progress to regional NHS chiefs on a monthly basis. Originally, Department of Health managers were demanding a cut in over 13 weeks out-patient waiting of 3,435 patients, but this was reduced to 3,100 after it was agreed East Lancashire should be treated as "an exception".

The report, which goes to members next week, shows East Lancashire had 250 more patients on the out patient list in June than target - five per cent too many - but the problem was down to the Burnley health district.

It states: "The degree of underperformance of the Authority relates entirely to the level of underperformance at Burnley Health Care NHS Trust who have been asked to report direct to the Regional Office on a monthly basis."

It says the trust is expected to be back on target by September.

Today, Burnley Health Trust finance director David Meakin admitted problems were mounting and more money was needed to meet targets. The trust had got off to a slow start this year because consultants who gave up their holidays last year to put in extra hours cutting waiting lists had taken their time this year.

In addition, said Mr Meakin, the trust was struggling to keep pace with a huge rise in patient referrals to the hospitals.

In one speciality alone, the trust had dealt with 12 per cent more patients, but received more than 20 per cent extra referrals.

"We are talking to the consultants to find ways of reducing the lists, but it is going to be extremely difficult to meet the targets," he added.

Simon Neville, director of corporate development for Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health trust, said: "When we set the targets at the beginning of the year we thought they were challenging but attainable.

"Now we are struggling to keep up with the increasing levels of demand and we are constantly reviewing our targets and the resources required to meet them. We too may need additional investment to achieve targets."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.