FULL credit to Stuart Bell, the new chief executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation, for stepping in to avoid the fiasco that was developing over cutting Christmas party funds to community hospital nurses.

As we wrote yesterday, the health sector faces multiple millions in cuts but this was a huge own goal in terms of motivating staff whose primary function is caring for people.

Mr Bell, who was not in charge when this decision was originally made, has shown strong leadership for pushing for a solution after the issue became public through the Oxford Mail.