STATISTICS continue to make grim reading for all of us who value the National Health Service.

An increase in patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital means that it is currently short of 86 nurses.

This is a disgraceful state of affairs and suggests that the political row over funding for the NHS is going to run and run -- until the next election and beyond.

In spite of various well-meaning government initiatives, there can be no doubt that funding and organisational shortcomings continue to blight a service which tries desperately to maintain its position as the envy of the world.

A recruitment drive has found only 20 extra nurses in the past 12 months -- taking the Bolton total from 1,465 to 1,485.

Clearly, something needs to be done about this and the chronic shortage of GPs in Bolton and other North-west towns.

Health care at the sharp end is in a sorry state and most of us can point to distressing examples involving ourselves, friends and relatives.

It is only the dedication and sense of love shown by health professionals which keeps the whole vessel afloat.

Labour made a successful job of attacking the Tory government when it was in opposition and the roles now appear to be reversed.

Voters, increasingly disillusioned, show little sign of believing anything they hear.

Somewhere along the line, bright, educated young people are not being pointed in the right direction.

Surely, there did not use to be a shortage of nurses in the days when there was a properly-funded training system which attracted people who wanted to do one of society's more useful jobs?

It is ludicrous that the NHS is reduced to finding qualified nursing and medical staff from overseas to fill some of the gaps.

If a country like Spain can train more people than it needs, why can't we? Just knockout, lads BUSINESSMEN Nick Hopkinson, Clive Nightingale, Andy Brabbin, John Sherrington, Dave Moss and Chris Taylor -- known as DAKS -- raised a fantastic £50,000 for the Bolton Lads and Girls Club at a high-quality boxing event at Bolton Town Hall.

What a knock-out performance.