Hospitals a huge issue on the doorstep

During the first week of the General Election campaign the future of our local hospitals has been a huge issue on the doorstep in Copeland. This has been common to Whitehaven, Millom, Keswick, and points in between, and the only difference being which hospital was of most concern to local people.

One good thing about this was that there is tremendous goodwill towards the NHS and most of the people who work in it.

Farewell to the NHS Blog Doctor

I wish "Dr Crippen" a happy retirement on learning that he has ceased to publish the "NHS blog doctor" weblog.

It was always one of the best of the medical blogs.

His retirement is marked here and here.

Lansley: we support WCH rebuild

Conservative shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley gave West Cumberland Hospital's rebuild/refurbishment as an example of an NHS capital programme which the Conservatives want to protect.

He told Sky News last week that the Conservatives are committed to real terms increases in spending on the NHS.

He stressed that the Conservatives would protect capital expenditure for the NHS and said that the Tories would build new hospitals, invest in diagnostic equipment, and in primary care facilities, although they plan "to get rid of the bureaucracy".

You can read a Politics Home summary of the Sky News interview here.