Health white paper could bring welcome local control - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has cautiously welcomed the health white paper, released on Monday. The MP says the plans could bring welcome local control to the NHS and possibly bring back some services to the Westmorland General.

Speaking this morning, Tim said: "For a long time we have campaigned to ensure that decisions about the future are made by local representatives and health professionals, not NHS managers.

"The health white paper sees the commissioning of services, like those provided by hospitals trusts, resting with local GPs; and the county council's health committee having a much greater say in the running of local health services. Decisions would be made by local GPs in consultation with a body which is democratically elected by local residents.

"Had a system like this been in place at the time of the reconfiguration carried out by the hospitals trust between 2006 and 2008, it is hard to see the Westmorland General losing as many services as it has done."