Massive success as MP wins campaign for urgent treatment centre

Plans for an urgent treatment centre in Kendal have been confirmed following a long running campaign by local MP Tim Farron.

Responding to a petition signed by over 5,000 local residents which Tim presented to Parliament before Christmas, health ministers have announced that the new centre will be operational this Spring.

In his response, Health minister Stephen Barclay said: "[Morecambe Bay] CCG confirms that an urgent treatment centre is planned for the site at Westmorland General Hospital where the Primary Care Assessment Service (PCAS) is currently located. The CCG is working with NHS England on an implementation plan. It is expected that the centre will be operational in Spring 2018."

Tim said, "This is a massive victory for our community campaign, and I'm hugely grateful to the thousands of local residents who have backed us.

"An urgent treatment centre will mean hundreds of patients will be able to be treated closer to home, reducing pressure on the A&E departments at Lancaster and Barrow for more serious cases."