Maternity unit staff may have panicked on hearing alarm bells and put the wrong name tags on the girls, health chiefs admitted.

"It's too dangerous," said the health chief, Dr. Katharine Rathbun.

They're furious that a promised reduction in hours hasn't happened, although health chiefs say they're doing all they can.

Most health chiefs believe the reforms have gone too far and too fast according to a report published yesterday.

In Scotland, health chiefs said an epidemic was imminent.

In the wake of the Daily Post revelations, health chiefs have called an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

The meeting will be held next month and health chiefs want to explain new initiatives being carried out to cut the waiting list.

Now regional health chiefs have decided against funding the service themselves.

The move, disclosed by health chiefs, is likely to create controversy after the outcry over school league tables.

The measures have been criticized by many health officials here, including Bernard C. Turnock, the Governor's public health chief.