'Solutions to missed ambulance targets are obvious' says MP

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has responded to the news that the North West Ambulance Service is missing its response targets in Cumbria by reiterating his call for ambulances to be allowed to take patients to the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

Speaking this morning, Tim said: "It doesn't take a genius to work out that if an ambulance takes a patient to Lancaster it is then an extra half an hour away from its next call - and with the reported congestion and resultant slow turnaround times at Lancaster this extra time could be even greater.

"The ambulance service admitted back in January that many of the calls they receive can be diverted and patients taken to the Westmorland General. However, instead of giving their trained paramedics the ability to make these decisions they have hidden behind excuses while response times suffer.

"Quite simply, the ambulance service should stop making excuses and giving Cumbria a second-rate service, and start providing the quality of service we deserve."