AS The Northern Echo's long-running campaign to cut waiting times for heart bypass surgery in Britain has illustrated, the Government has made significant progress in the area of coronary care in recent years.

We have applauded the Government for the action it has taken in investing record amounts of money in the health of the nation.

But the disclosure that a health trust is restricting the operation which cured Tony Blair of an irregular heartbeat is a cause of concern.

Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust has removed dozens of people from its waiting lists for cardiac catheter ablation, arguing that only the most desperate cases can be dealt with in an attempt to cut costs.

It was inevitable that the decision would spark claims that health officials are being forced to place the meeting of Government targets ahead of patient needs.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has effectively passed the buck, saying the responsibility lies with the local health trust.

But that doesn't help those people whose quality of life is being affected by the failure of the NHS to come to their aid.

We need a health service which treats people fairly, irrespective of the part of the country in which they live, and regardless of their position in society.

As it stands, in the point-scoring, target-obsessed world of NHS management, we remain a long way from that aspiration.