Writing off Carlisle hospital’s PFI debt would help stem spiralling financial issues – but wouldn’t solve all of its problems.

Hospital bosses were frank with their answers to concerned residents and politicians at a public meeting in Carlisle this week.

Residents were given the chance to quiz local NHS leaders about how they plan to tackle deep-rooted problems within the hospitals and wider health system.

These include debts totalling £80 million, mostly within the hospital trust; a staffing crisis; quality of care; growing demand for services; an ageing population and challenging geographical area.

Among those in the audience was Trevor Allison, who asked how much the hefty repayments on the Cumberland Infirmary were impacting on the rest of the health system.

The hospital was built using controversial Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding, which means North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust are forking out millions a year to use the building.

Mr Allison, who is currently standing for election to Carlisle City Council and sits on Cumbria County Council, asked: “If it was written off, if the Government were to write it off, would it transform our ability to cope?”

Helen Ray, chief operating officer at the hospital trust, said it would help – but the problems are not just financial.

“There is no doubt that the PFI contributes significantly to our deficit,” she said.

“Would dealing with that PFI financially help us to resolve the challenges? It would certainly help to reduce the financial challenge but wouldn’t help us to deal with challenges around recruitment and staffing.”


Helen Ray She added that the board has been reviewing the existing PFI contract and is determined to get a better deal.

Mr Allison also suggested that the nuclear industry could contribute as part of new developments planned in the county.

The meeting was organised by the Success Regime – the Government-appointed body brought in to transform the troubled north Cumbrian health system. It is working alongside local health trusts, who were all represented at Tuesday night’s meeting, at the Tithe Barn.

As well as issues within the hospitals, it also looked at wider problems and set out a vision for the area.

Another hot topic was the threat to the area’s community hospitals, with one controversial option being to centralise beds on fewer sites and care for more people in their own homes.

Campaigners from the Wigton and Brampton League of Friends groups were among those in the audience.

They stressed that any loss of beds would put even more pressure on other services and questioned whether social services could cope with any increase in workload.

John Holland, of Brampton, said: “I believe that you need at least as many staff to deal with people in their own homes as you do in community hospitals.

“Where are these staff going to come from?”

Canon Michael Manley, of Carlisle Cathedral, added: “In my experience care services in the city are weak indeed. Unless something is done there, it’s all just going to back up.”

Eveline Dugdale, of Wigton, said the hospitals provide vital step up and step down care, keeping patients out of the infirmary and preventing them from ending up in care homes.

The meeting, along with another in Longtown the same day, was the first in a series organised by the Success Regime. The next is at Penrith Parish Centre on Monday at 1pm. 

People are also being urged to put forward their views via its website at www.successregimecumbria.nhs.uk .