'NHS experts' appointments are to be welcomed, but should have come earlier

Commenting on the news that the Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee have appointed two NHS experts to monitor the impact of the recent cuts at Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital, local MP Tim Farron said:

"This move by the scrutiny committee is to be welcomed. The indications since the closure of the acute medical wards at the Westmorland General are not good, with many of my constituents contacting me raising concerns at the ability of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to cope with the extra workload.

"However, these appointments should have come much earlier. It simply beggars belief that the scrutiny committee made a decision which has such a large impact on the health care services of local residents without reference to independent medical experts."