The Cumberland Infirmary was built with private money

Jack Cunningham, MP for Copeland, said he regretted the resignation of Barbara Cannon, who chaired the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals Trust.

She stepped down on Thursday, saying that "a very, very, difficult job" had become a burden.

Mrs Cannon had been under pressure since a report by independent inspectors criticised the leadership of the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals Trust.

The chief executive of the trust, Nick Wood, resigned after a draft copy of the report by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) was published.

Mr Cunningham had always been one of Mrs Cannon's strongest supporters, defending her in the face of criticism.

Interim appointments

The trust includes the flagship Public Finance Initiative (PFI) hospital - Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle - and its sister outfit West Cumberland Hospital.

The CHI report said the trust lacked direction, that poor management was causing overworked staff, and there were tensions between the two hospitals.

The appointment process for a new chief executive is underway, and now a new chairman is needed.

In the interim, Eric Urquhart, the chairman of the North Cumbria Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Trust, will take on the role of chairman.

The director of finance, Peter Scott, is the acting chief executive.

The trust was created by the merger of Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, 40 miles away, in April 2001.