Figures for waiting lists for child and youth care are being artificially massaged to look shorter than they really are, reports the Nederlands Dagblad on Monday.

As soon as children are given any sort of help, they are removed from the list. But the help given is often not suitable, says care organisation MO Groep.
In January 2006 5,000 children were waiting more than nine weeks for help. When the health ministry gave the sector €100m for new personnel, the waiting list disappeared. But by April 1 2007 there were again 1,600 children on the list, the paper says.