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NHS trust faked MP visit picture NHS trust faked MP visit picture
(10 minutes later)
An NHS trust has admitted superimposing an image of a government minister into a publicity photograph for a hospital building project.An NHS trust has admitted superimposing an image of a government minister into a publicity photograph for a hospital building project.
Culture Secretary James Purnell was late for the photo at Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester, turning up after three other MPs had to leave.Culture Secretary James Purnell was late for the photo at Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester, turning up after three other MPs had to leave.
Instead, the MP agreed to have his photograph taken in the same spot and it was then merged with the original. The MP agreed to have his photograph taken in the same spot, but says he did not agree to the images being merged.
The Trust has apologised to anyone who may have been misled by the image. The trust has apologised to anyone who may have been misled by the picture.
The image was sent out to a number of local newspapers in Greater Manchester and was published in at least one.
The photo was the result of a misunderstanding, with the hospital believing it was doing the best thing by putting out a picture of all the MPs together James Purnell spokesmanThe photo was the result of a misunderstanding, with the hospital believing it was doing the best thing by putting out a picture of all the MPs together James Purnell spokesman
A spokesman for Mr Purnell said the Culture Secretary agreed to have his photograph taken but not for it to be merged with the other one.
Local MPs David Hayes, Tom Levitt and Andrew Gwynne all turned up in time for the photo call, organised by the Tameside and Glossop Hospitals NHS Trust.Local MPs David Hayes, Tom Levitt and Andrew Gwynne all turned up in time for the photo call, organised by the Tameside and Glossop Hospitals NHS Trust.
They were photographed at the construction site for a new hospital building alongside trust chairman Kevin Corscadden and chief executive Christine Green.They were photographed at the construction site for a new hospital building alongside trust chairman Kevin Corscadden and chief executive Christine Green.
But Mr Purnell, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, was late for the photographer because of his "hectic ministerial schedule", the trust said.But Mr Purnell, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, was late for the photographer because of his "hectic ministerial schedule", the trust said.
'Good opportunity''Good opportunity'
"All four of the local MPs of Tameside and Glossop have been highly supportive of the new building project, which will greatly improve facilities for patients and staff at Tameside General Hospital," said a spokesman."All four of the local MPs of Tameside and Glossop have been highly supportive of the new building project, which will greatly improve facilities for patients and staff at Tameside General Hospital," said a spokesman.
"Unfortunately, due to his hectic ministerial schedule James Purnell was late for the photo-shoot, and arrived shortly after the other MPs had to leave."Unfortunately, due to his hectic ministerial schedule James Purnell was late for the photo-shoot, and arrived shortly after the other MPs had to leave.
"All the MPs had gone to great efforts to show their support, and as we would not be able to stage a repeat of this historic day for the hospital, we decided to take a photograph of Mr Purnell in the same spot very shortly after, and merge it with the earlier photograph, to which Mr Purnell kindly consented."All the MPs had gone to great efforts to show their support, and as we would not be able to stage a repeat of this historic day for the hospital, we decided to take a photograph of Mr Purnell in the same spot very shortly after, and merge it with the earlier photograph, to which Mr Purnell kindly consented.
"We apologise if anyone feels misled by this, but we took the judgement that the image of all our MPs on site supporting this excellent new project, was too good an opportunity to miss.""We apologise if anyone feels misled by this, but we took the judgement that the image of all our MPs on site supporting this excellent new project, was too good an opportunity to miss."
'Misunderstanding'
Mr Purnell's spokesman said the mix-up happened after the minister arrived late at the hospital near Stalybridge.Mr Purnell's spokesman said the mix-up happened after the minister arrived late at the hospital near Stalybridge.
"He had assumed it would be made clear he had not been there at the same time as the other Mps," the spokesman said. "He had assumed it would be made clear he had not been there at the same time as the other MPs," the spokesman said.
"The photo was the result of a misunderstanding, with the hospital believing it was doing the best thing by putting out a picture of all the MPs together.""The photo was the result of a misunderstanding, with the hospital believing it was doing the best thing by putting out a picture of all the MPs together."
Mr Purnell, 37, was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in Gordon Brown's first Cabinet in June 2007.