Is This The Real Meaning of "Efficiency"?

"Phlebotomy" = extracting blood for testing and monitoring patients. Some GP surgeries do it but mostly it's done either in the local hospital or a large health centre.

A few weeks ago we were informed that the afternoon opening hours our local phlebotomy clinics would be reduced.

"Why?" I asked (since afternoons were especially popular with people with jobs). The answer came back:

"The activity within the phlebotomy service has been increasing year on year since it transferred to the Community Provider from the local hospital in 2004/05 with very little increase in funding. We had managed to sustain a quality service within the financial constraints over the years. However with further financial reductions across all provider services it has become necessary to ensure the service that is provided remains of good quality and all governance risks are reduced which has unfortunately resulted in a reduction within the service for some of the afternoon clinics.

We had approached our commissioner colleagues for additional funding last year which was initially agreed for 6 months whilst they reviewed the service, allowing us to resume a full service. Unfortunately the funding agreed this year is not sufficient to provide the same level of service."

I always have trouble with "officialese" so just to be sure ...

"Thank you for your reply which leaves me rather baffled (nothing new there then)!

May I paraphrase?

(a) Demand is increasing
(b) Funding is decreasing
(c) The level of service is therefore reduced.

Or have I missed something?"

Clearly I hadn't and the further response had me reaching for the benzopump.

"Correct.
Whilst funding following the review increased our establishment by 1 phlebotomist only to be then used for efficiency savings. Leaving us with no choice but to provide a service within the envelope of money we have been given."

Just in case you have some difficulty in comprehending the sane and rational world in which I work, allow me to summarise:

1. Demand for the service has increased and thus so have the costs of maintaining the same service levels.
2. The provider asked the commissioner for more money and this was given but only why the commissioner reviewed the service.
3. Having completed the review, the commissioner agreed to increase funding to increase capacity.
4. The commissioner then took the money away again and called it "efficiency savings".
5. As a result, the service levels have been reduced.