Smoke and mirrors

I previously expressed the idea that the finances of the NHS, whilst obviously originating from a central government source, are then split, divided, hidden and generally massaged to distraction leaving no semblance of reason in the resultant mire.
Take this example - not at all unusual I'm sad to say. Consider a business case is written within a particular speciality for four new specialist services - A, B, C and D. All are proven technologies, some newer, some not so new but the team is agreed that to further the department these are essential steps. They collaborate to make the case to the Board to but into these advances. Technology A is a real money-spinner and would, within two years, not only pay for itself but also for the initially otherwise loss-making B, C and D (provided that the Primary Care Trust can fund it - see 'Divide and Conquer' below). The sums work out. The document gets passed through the legions of paper-pushers that inhabit the halls of administration but eventually the answer comes back: 'yes'.
So far so good. Arrangements are made to part-fund technology B from charitable sources and this is forthcoming. B, C and D all start up as they are more easily acquired and the services start later that year. There is small delay with Technology A as competitor quotes are evaluated but soon a decision is reached and the clinicians are happy and keen to proceed.
But.
But, but, but.
Suddenly the message percolates down from on high that the purchasing of this Technology A must wait until the new financial year as there is not enough money to invest in this during the current financial year. Meanwhile B, C, and D carry on regardless - providing a service but allegedly losing money. Money that was to have been covered by the income generated by A...
Could any private sector company run its business like this? Of course not. And there one sees the problem of an internal private market within a state funded system.
These are just numbers on someone's irrelevant spreadsheet but they carry more weight than clinical concerns.
If only it was as simple as looking through smoke and mirrors. Sadly it is the highest imaginable degree of obfuscation, the running of which costs as much as the service that it purports to underpin.
I would weep were I not so angry.