Hospital campaign gathers pace

Local MP Tim Farron has been on the attack on all fronts this week in an effort to persuade Cumbria Primary Care Trust to call of the closure programme immediately. Mr Farron has spoken to both the Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson and the Health Minister Ann Keen, presenting them with evidence which disproves the Trust's claims regarding ambulances and extra capacity at other hospitals in the area.

Mr Farron has also written to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Cumbria County Council to urge them to rescind their approval of the plans. Finally, Mr Farron will be writing this week to all GPs in his constituency urging them to voice their concerns on the issue.

Tim Farron said:

"It is clear to me that the evidence on which the Trust's programme to close our heart unit was based is utterly flawed, and they must therefore scrap the programme immediately. Ambulances will not be upgraded as we were told they would, and the other hospitals in the area will not be able to cope with the extra burden.

"The fight to stop the closure of the heart unit will go on. The Trusts must no longer ignore our campaign and cannot go ahead with plans based on such flimsy evidence."