New Kendal hospital backing urged by Lakes MP

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has asked the Government to back a new hub hospital for Morecambe Bay, south of Kendal. Questioning health ministers on the floor of the House yesterday, Tim outlined one of the options put forwards by clinicians as part of the current hospitals review, and asked the Government for capital funding to make it a reality.

Tim, who has long campaigned for A&E and acute services to be brought back to Westmorland GeneralHospital asked: "As Morecambe Bay trust seeks to recover from its financial crisis, one of the options put forward by clinicians is for a new, acute hub hospital to be created south of Kendal to improve safety, access and financial efficiencies. It is bound to involve a capital cost to start off with. If the new hub hospital is the option chosen by clinicians, will my hon. Friend give it his backing politically and financially?"

Speaking after health questions, Tim said: "The current review of medical services in our area offers us a massive chance to make the case that services need to be returned to Kendal and South Lakeland. I am making that case as strongly as I can. I am working with doctors, staff and campaigners and together we have created a plan for the future of the trust that is deliverable and will improve patient care.

"The one concern we had was that if the review came back and agreed with us and said new services must come to Kendal, with the trusts finances like they are it might not be deliverable. I will keep pressing the Government on the issue and work to bring more services back to our area."