Crisis-hit A&E needs extra funds - Farron

With local A&E services urging residents to stay away because they cannot cope, South Lakes MP Tim Farron is calling on the government to provide a £4billion emergency cash injection for the NHS in the Autumn Statement.

Local A&E departments were struggling to cope over the weekend, with patients reportedly facing waits of up to 5 ½ hours at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Problems look set to get even worse, with NHS services in Lancashire and South Cumbria facing a £572million deficit by 2021.

The Lib Dems are calling on the Chancellor to invest £4billion in NHS and Social Care in Wednesday's Autumn Statement, of which £400million would be specifically to bolster A&E services this winter.

Tim said: "It is extremely worrying that our local A&E services are already in crisis, when the worst of the winter hasn't even set in yet. The government cannot simply pretend that everything will be ok - our NHS is desperately short of funds. I am calling on the Chancellor to use the Autumn Statement to announce a £4billion cash injection for our NHS. Without this, the problems will only get worse and it is the sick and ill who rely on these services that will take the hit."