MP celebrates massive campaign win as plans to move A&E further away are finally axed

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has secured a massive victory in his campaign to stop plans to merge Lancaster and Preston's hospitals onto a single site.

These plans were first announced by the Conservative Government back in 2020, prompting fears it could lead to even longer journeys to access emergency care for patients in the South Lakes.

Tim raised the issue with health ministers in meetings and on the floor of the House and earlier this year presented an 8,000-strong petition to the Department for Health, calling for the plans to be scrapped.

But this afternoon, a press release from the Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care partnership revealed that the plans have now been "discounted".

Commenting on the news this evening, Tim said: "I'm absolutely over the moon that after months and months of pressure, these dangerous plans are now finally in the bin where they belong.

"I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who signed the petition and backed the campaign - this is your victory.

"However, I will be watching the rest of this process like a hawk to make sure that no hospital services are moved from Kendal or Lancaster to Preston."