THE use (and misuse) of figures and league tables to hold our public services up to scrutiny is becoming an increasingly frustrating exercise.

After Oxfordshire County Council contradicted the findings of its own report about the profit it is raking in through the Oxford parking permit scheme, it was again yesterday arguing against figures that on the face of it seem to lead to easy conclusions for the taxpayer.

Six months ago a Department of Health survey showed that on a single day in December there were 89 people stuck in hospital despite being well enough to be discharged, because the correct care system was not in place for them: bedblocking as it is known.

Then Arash Fatemian, the councillor responsible for this, promised the situation would improve.

Today that figure is 129 people – that’s almost 50 per cent worse.

The number of days for bedblocking has shot through the roof as well.

These are the guidelines the Government has set to provide a picture of how social services and the health service are performing.

Yet Mr Fatemian actually claims bedblocking has been improving recently, according to some internal county council figures.

Mr Fatemian makes a good argument that it may be better to take a bit longer to get the right care package in place so the patient is less likely to have a relapse that tips them back into hospital.

We do not suggest bedblocking is an easy problem to solve, especially in these straitened times. It is not.

But trying to bend an argument to a give a positive slant does nothing to give us confidence bedblocking is being targeted in an open, honest and warts-and-all approach that would finally improve things for our sick.

That’s what those sitting in hospital beds deserve. So start doing it.