THE dispute that erupted today between two health service groups over a £7million shortfall in funding for patient care in Blackburn and Darwen may seem clear-cut.

After all, according to the government figures, the area's primary care group needs £112million , but the East Lancashire Health Authority has allocated only £105m.

This threatens the efforts to recruit more doctors and dentists and to cut waiting lists.

But if the funding formula says what amount is needed, why has it not been allocated -- when other parts of East Lancashire are getting the laid-down sums?

However, it is not a case of poor arithmetic or preference, but the NHS's endemic complaint of never having enough resources to do all that is demanded of it and having to spread funds accordingly -- too often, too thinly and to the frustration of health workers and patients. And, even with the health authority following the rules, we see the results today in Blackburn and Darwen.

Ironically, this too-small allocation was made just as the government was announcing massive spending boosts for the NHS. Plainly, these should now include priority funding for struggling blackspot areas like Blackburn and Darwen -- and our health service groups might do better to that ram home.

Meantime, the health authority might review its allocation to Blackburn and Darwen and, as it promises, find extra cash from wherever it can.