Campaign for Kendal Cancer Centre receives significant boost

Progress towards a new cancer centre in south Cumbria took another step forward after local MP Tim Farron spoke to Ian Cumming the Chief Executive of North Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

Mr Farron spoke with Mr Cumming to discuss the role of North Lancashire PCT in securing new cancer centre in Kendal. In order for the proposal to be considered viable it is vital that North Lancashire PCT agrees to send patients to the prospective cancer centre. The great news is that Mr Cumming agreed that North Lancashire patients would be funded to have treatment at Kendal.

Mr Farron is now building on the momentum by organising a roundtable meeting between the four Chief Executives of the relevant NHS Trusts (the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, NHS Lancashire and NHS Cumbria).

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"For the new cancer centre to be seen as viable, North Lancashire PCT have to agree to send patients to the prospective site in Kendal. It's therefore great news that Ian Cumming, the Chief Executive of North Lancashire PCT has given us this assurance.

"The NHS Trust in both Cumbria and Lancashire are on board with our proposal. I'll be organising a roundtable meeting between all the relevant members of the two Primary Care and Hospital Trusts to ensure the final proposal for a new cancer centre is beneficial for all the parties involved.

"This a huge step forward in our campaign to getting a new cancer centre at Westmorland General. We still have a lot of work to do before we get the world class cancer facilities we want; but I am sure that the local determination to have this centre built means that we will be successful."