Nuclear agency 'saves' hospitals

Threatened cottage hospitals in Cumbria have been given an £18m lifeline by the agency set up to decommission Britain's ageing nuclear installations.

An NHS review cast doubt over community hospitals at Brampton, Keswick, Millom, Maryport, Cockermouth and Alston.

Campaigners and local MPs called for urgent cash help to retain the sites.

Now the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which is located in West Cumbria, has said it will provide the cash over three years.

The NDA said it was providing the money because it had responsibility under the Energy Act to "help with the economic and social development of the area".

The organisation was approached by the area's MPs and council leaders, who said the hospitals should stay open while plans for a new acute hospital in Copeland were being developed.

'Essential element'

Ian Roxburgh, chief executive of the NDA, said: "The NDA has a vital role to play in assisting West Cumbria to maintain a strong and sustainable community.

"An essential element in the emerging plans is the hoped for development of a new acute hospital to replace the existing West Cumberland Acute Hospital.

"The early plans for the new hospital envisage it integrating fully with the existing community hospitals to provide a joined up service.

"Clearly, if the community hospitals were to close during the two year or so planning period, then this widely supported new model for providing care would be lost."

Marie Burnham, chief executive of North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is a considerable and significant achievement in a case that was put forward by MPs for West Cumbria."