NHS Wirral spends over £2,400 on night at Wirral hotel for cancer chiefs

Aug 25 2010 by Liza Williams, Bromborough and Bebington News

NHS WIRRAL spent nearly £2,500 on a staff trip to an expensive hotel.

The health trust paid £2,429 for an overnight stay at Inglewood Manor, in Ledsham, south Wirral.

The event was part of the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network’s leadership development programme.

The Trust said the jaunt was “essential” in the battle against the disease in the region.

But a member of the public, also staying at the Edwardian country house hotel, was enraged by the use of taxpayers’ money for the trip.

He decided to send the health body a Freedom of Information request to find out the cost and details of the event.

The answer also revealed some of the health chiefs who stayed at the hotel lived as little as 15 miles away.

There were 18 people at the event, with 12 staying overnight at the meeting last month.

The FOI response reads: “The meeting is part of the nine-month Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network Leadership Development programme.

“The residential component of the programme is essential as it allows delegates time away from their workplace to reflect on learning to date and identify areas for further development.

“It also enables delegates to step outside of their day-to-day job and work with others facing similar issues in similar organisations.”