COOKING THE BOOKS

Capitalism has elevated book-keeping and accountancy into a near-religion and while this is perfectly understandable in the realms of business it is completely inappropriate when it comes to treating ill-health. 'The scandal over cancer treatment at a leading hospital has widened after it emerged that its own officials now fear that at least 6,000 patients may have had their records falsified to meet treatment targets. Investigations by the Observer into the crisis at Colchester general hospital have also established that inquiries into whether staff were bullied into changing records will include the questioning of the hospital's chief executive, Gordon Coutts.' (Observer, 10 November) Needless to say these 6,000 patients would all be members of the working class. The owning class could afford to pay for first-class treatment. RD