Tim Farron celebrates campaign win as birth services set to be restored at Kendal maternity ward

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has warmly welcomed today’s news that birth services at Helme Chase Maternity Unit in Kendal will be reinstated, following a local community campaign.

Birth services have been suspended at Westmorland General Hospital since May due to significant staffing issues. 

However, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have announced that birth services will be reinstated in February.

In September, Tim presented a petition to Parliament, signed by more than 2,200 people.

Tim said: “I am absolutely delighted that we've won our campaign to save Helme Chase Maternity Unit!

“I'm incredibly grateful to the Trust for their hard work in filling the midwife vacancies.

“I'm also massively thankful to everyone who backed our campaign and showed how important Helme Chase is to families across our community.”