A former Cumbrian hospital consultant will be honoured, after hospital bosses revealed they will be renaming a building after him.

The Education Centre, at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, will be known as The James George Education Centre following the decision by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.

It will be named after Dr James (Jim) George, an elderly care consultant at the trust as well as the trust’s clinical director for research and development.

He worked as a consultant for the trust from February 1986 until he retired in July 2015, returning on flexible retirement in September that year.

Dr George passed away peacefully on January 2 this year at Eden Valley Hospice with his beloved wife Angela and daughter Jenn by his side.

A passionate advocate for his patients, Dr George helped develop accessible specialist clinics within the local rural communities and a specialist joint unit with the psychiatry team for the management of patients with dementia and delirium.

He was given a prestigious BUPA award for the latter work.

He also co-wrote a book which was highly commended at the BMA Book Awards in 2014.

Very well-liked and respected, the consultant's aim was to enable patients and colleagues alike to achieve their potential.

He always recognised the importance of education and research and made time to share his knowledge and expertise with every member of staff.

A naming ceremony will take place at the centre on Friday at 12.45pm.

Dr George's friends and colleagues will then go on to give talks on areas he held a keen interest in - acute medicine in the frail elderly, delirium, treating orthostatic hypotension in older people, developing evidence based stroke care, and Parkinson’s Disease.

Dr Paul Mead, renal consultant at the trust and friend of Dr George, said: “Jim really was one of those doctors who truly cared for his patients and wanted to do his upmost to improve their lives in any way he could.

“His work on research and education gained him international recognition and it seems only fitting to rename the Education Centre in his honour.

"He is sorely missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.”