"Great Debate" postponed

I am sorry to learn that the "Great Debate" into the future of hospitals in Cumbria, which had been due to start this month, has been put back to later in the year.

I would rather have an intelligent and properly framed debate later this year than yet another botched consultation now.

However, we cannot indefinately keep putting off decisions about the future of our hospitals. The longer we delay taking decisions the worse the morale of key staff will become, the more good people we will lose, and the harder it will be to ensure that the level and quality of health services which the local community in West Cumbria needs remains sustainable.