North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

[8] The Trust was placed in special measures as a result of Sir Bruce Keogh's review of hospital mortality.

[12] The Trust came out of Special Measures in 2017[13] In February 2014 it was reported that the trust board had lost confidence in the maintenance and estates services provided to the Cumberland Infirmary through Health Management Carlisle under the PFI contract after a probe uncovered “major issues” with the way its operating theatres, water systems and gas pipelines were being maintained.

There was a 25 per cent vacancy rate in consultant posts, the equivalent of 50 people, meaning the trust is relying heavily on locums.

[15] In June 2014 a senior consultant, Guy Broome, co-chairman of the Trust's Medical Staff Committee resigned his post, questioning the motives of Northumbria Healthcare, wanting to see the merger stopped and other options explored.

He claimed his workload has been stripped back since new bosses took over and specialist links to experts in Newcastle had been severed.