The News & Star has rounded on the NHS executive who is in charge of the £87m hospital serving North Cumbria.

It came under fire in a recent inspection and the newspaper believes the faults were down to her.

Barbara Cannon’s board manages the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

The Commission for Heath Improvement – a Government watchdog – blamed the management trust for a lack of leadership, direction and planning.

And the Carlisle paper is putting the pressure on for her to leave their area after the damning report.

A News & Star comment column said: “We want someone else to take the helm of our proud £87m NHS flagship hospital. Someone who will stop fuelling the fires between east and west hospitals.

“We suggest Mrs Cannon reads again what the report says about tensions between the two hospitals having ‘worsened’ under her rule. About ‘serious concerns raised around this trust’s ability to overcome problems’. About ‘low profile of the board directors’ and ‘lack of a clear, achievable strategy’.”

The newspaper pointed out that the report did not criticise staff, nurses, doctors and consultants, but blamed the trust for its lack of leadership, direction and planning.

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