‘Immense pressure from heavy cuts to blame for serious medical mistakes’ – MP

South Lakes MP Tim Farron says that heavy cuts made by the Government are the reason behind a recent number of preventable medical mistakes in local hospitals.

A Freedom of Information request made by BBC Radio Cumbria found that a number of serious medical mistakes that should never happen, known by doctors as 'never events' have been recorded in Cumbrian hospitals in the past 18 months.

Tim said: "The local doctors and nurses who look after us are fantastic, working heroic shifts and they always show commitment, compassion and professionalism.

"As patients we know that, and we saw that in the recent CQC report. The continuation of these terrible 'never events' comes about because health and social care are under immense pressure because of real funding cuts by the Government.

"The Government continues to threaten our area as it looks to make £572million in extra health cuts over the next three years.

"Those health cuts are the source of pressure that leads to mistakes - they must stop."