Whitehaven hospital to lose maternity beds ?

The Whitehaven News has a story suggesting that as part of the reduction in bed numbers following on from the "Closer to Home" consultation, the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven might lose eight maternity beds, (dropping from 23 to 15).

It is also suggested that there might also be losses in the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) and paediatrics. For more details see the "Support West Cumbria Hospital Services" blog - follow link at right.

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Anonymous said…
Cunningham faces lobby probe call

Lord Cunningham used to be MP for the Cumbrian seat of Copeland
The Lords authorities are facing calls to investigate Labour peer Lord Cunningham over claims he failed to properly declare consultancy work.
Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb wants an inquiry into claims the former minister receives £36,000 a year as an advisor to the City of London Corporation.

The Corporation has confirmed the peer had set up meetings with ministers and other work for it since 2006.

Lord Cunningham was not available to comment on the allegations.

Mr Lamb said he had written to the Lords' register of members' financial interests, as it appeared the former Cabinet minister "may have failed to comply with the rules".

The Lib Dem MP added: "We must have total transparency. This is certainly something that needs to be investigated."

Advice

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation confirmed that Lord Cunningham held the role of consultant, which it said involves "occasional" help with setting up meetings.

The Corporation is in charge of planning, policing and public services in London's main financial district.

Initially Lord Cunningham was employed through the lobbying firm Sovereign Strategy, run by former Labour MEP Alan Donnelly, but since September 2007 he has been paid through his own company, Brinkburn Associates.

His work mainly involved giving advice on a range of issues affecting the City, including proposed laws, as well as helping to liaise with ministers, the spokesman added.

"Occasionally he might assist us in contacting somebody he happens to know, in a particular minister's office, and explain that we were having difficulty arranging a meeting," he said.

Lord Cunningham left the government in 1999 and was made a life peer in 2005 after stepping down as the Labour MP for the Copeland constituency in Cumbria.

Since then he has carried out consultancy work for a number of organisations, mainly in the nuclear industry.

The register of Lords' interests lists several trips to the US paid for by Sovereign Strategy or an organisation called the Transatlantic Nuclear Energy Forum, which lists him on its website as its honorary legislative chair for Europe.

Lord Cunningham was unavailable for comment about his consultancy work.
2:30 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
We'll have to see what happens on this. All parties need to ensure that expenses of MPs, MEPs and peers are clear and tranparent
7:19 pm
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