Tim Farron welcomes decision to reinstate funding for Ambleside and Hawkshead GP surgeries to treat minor injuries

Local MP Tim Farron has warmly welcomed the news that funding has been restored for GP surgeries in Ambleside, Hawkshead, and Millom to treat minor injuries.

Back in May, the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) decided to stop providing enhanced provision for assessment and treatment of minor injuries at GP practices.

Instead, people were advised to go to their nearest urgent treatment centre at Kendal or Keswick, or A&E in Barrow or Lancaster.

Tim had written to the Chief Executive of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB calling for the funding to be restored and also raised the issue with government ministers on the floor of the House of Commons.

But in a recent letter from the ICB’s Acting Chief Executive, Sam Proffitt, the health body said they would now be restoring funding for those GP surgeries where “patients have the greatest travelling distances and times to access alternative services”.

Sam Proffitt wrote: “At the time concerns were received about the potential impacts on local hospital services and it was agreed to monitor the situation. Subsequently further concerns were received from the local community about the loss of the service in Millom, and it was agreed that a further clinical review would take place.

“This review has been completed, and it has now been agreed that those practices whose patients have the greatest travelling distances and times to access alternative services (Central Lakes Medical Group in Ambleside and Hawkshead and Waterloo House Surgery in Millom) will be able to offer a range of appropriate minor treatments as part of their existing wound care services.”

Commenting on the news, Tim said: “I’m very glad to see this vital service return to GP surgeries in Ambleside, Hawkshead and Millom. I’m grateful to the ICB for listening to the significant concerns of local residents and choosing to restore the funding in these places.

“However I remain concerned that patients in rural areas such as Windermere and Grange are not able to get minor injuries treated at their local GP practices.

“I will continue to make the case to the ICB to restore this service in full so that people can get the care they need closer to home.”