MP delivers 8,000 strong petition to Department for Health opposing hospital merger plans

This afternoon, local MP Tim Farron has handed in a petition to the Department for Health against controversial plans to merge Lancaster and Preston's hospital onto a single site.

The petition, which has garnered 8,361 signatures, opposes the plans and calls on the Government and health bosses to ensure residents in the South Lakes don't have to travel any further for acute hospital treatment.

Over the last few months, Tim has raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Health in the House of Commons and met with Health Minister Edward Argar to warn him of the 'devastating consequences the plans will have for local patients'.

Tim said: "It's all very well having a brand spanking new hospital but not if it's so far away that local people don't arrive there alive.

"It's vital that A&E is as close to people as it can be, and certainly no further away than it already is.

"Thank you so much to everyone who signed this petition - we won't stop fighting until this plan is off the table."