Father Holds Up Falling Lamp During Wife's Labour

A new father, Jules Wilkinson, said he had to hold up a lamp that had fallen from the ceiling of the maternity ward at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, while his wife, Lisa, was in labour. Wilkinson said the lamp "started to unscrew itself" and nearly hit a midwife. He held the lamp on his shoulders for about an hour until his baby was delivered.

Karen James, chief executive of the hospital trust, said Stepping Hill needs "at least £400m" to address building issues. Cheadle MP Tom Morrison said he was raising the matter in Parliament. The government said the hospital is receiving tens of millions of pounds for maintenance and new buildings.

Morrison and fellow Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart, who represents nearby Hazel Grove, toured the hospital and were shown corridors with ceilings held up by scaffolding and buckets catching rainwater from leaking roofs. Morrison said the hospital has been "badly let down by successive governments".

James said over 65% of the hospital's estate is classified in the worst categories and is deteriorating daily. She said many of the buildings, some dating from the Victorian era, are no longer fit for purpose. Rebecca Chamorto, divisional nurse director for medicine and urgent care, said conditions make life hard for staff and patients.