LIFE has probably never been more difficult for people working in the NHS in East Lancashire.

Despite the claims of politicians it does appear that resources are challenged to the limit by financial pressures.

At the same time more and more people are going to the accident and emergency department at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Trust bosses say they are confident of hitting key time targets for attending to patients even though last month there was a 14 per cent rise in the number of people coming through the doors.

Targets have been controversial but their aim clearly is the sensible one of putting pressure on hospital managers to ensure that patients are seen, initially assessed and then treated as swiftly as possible.

The key target specifies that 95 per cent of people should be seen within four hours of attending A&E.

Managers predict that they are confident they will meet this with performance currently running at 96.59 per cent.

If they do manage to under the present, increasingly difficult circumstances everyone involved will deserve praise for a real achievement.