Dr Desert began by making his apology and he added: “We have to acknowledge there has been a serious failure of governance. Cllr Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) asked how they planned to recruit more GPs? Cllr Jeanette Forster (Hillcrest and Hensingham, Labour) asked if they were actively looking for permanent GPs as locums are expensive. Cllr Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) asked whether a financial malpractice investigation by the police had been completed. Dr Desert responded and said: “Things are improving and we are on a journey.”