There's one tantalising detail missing from this BBC report about Tameside General Hospital faking a photo of a visit by culture secretary James Purnell: Who was the photographer? The picture has a distinct newspaper style to it  so I'd be very interested to know if the person who took the two photos (knowing they'd be composited) is a newspaper photographer.

This would raise an intriguing ethical dilemma. As a photojournalist he (or she) wouldn't be allowed to fake the photo. But in theory there's no reason why he can't do private commercial work which does involve faking a photo. The dilemma is: If the hospital hired the photographer on a private basis, but he knew the photo would be sent to newspapers, which ethical constraint is he bound by?

I've actually called the hospital to find out who took the photo but the main phone number just rings and rings, and the number for the media contact goes to voice mail so I've left a message. If I find out any more then I'll let you know.