Farron meets with Health Minister to discuss local hospital trust

South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, this afternoon joined with MPs from across the area covered by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to meet with Health Minister, Simon Burns, to discuss the ongoing problems within the hospital trust.

At the meeting MPs had the opportunity to press the minister as well as representatives from Department of Health, the Care Quality Commission and MONITOR on their overall concerns relating the various reviews into the Trust as well as any specific concerns about their local hospitals.

Speaking after the meeting Tim said: "Today's meeting was absolutely vital to ensure that the Minister and the government are aware of just how serious the situation in Morecambe Bay is. This is crunch time for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and the fact that so many MPs attended the meeting proves this.

"I was relieved to gain assurances from the representatives of the Care Quality Commission at the meeting that the non-acute emergency services at Westmorland General Hospital, such as the Primary Care Assessment Service and the Langdale unit, which fall under the responsibility of the Cumbria Primary Care Trust, will also be taken into account as part of their investigations - despite not falling under the initial scope of inquiry. This is an important widening of their remit which puts Westmorland General firmly at the heart of this inquiry.

"Ultimately the meeting was useful to provide assurances that the Government are monitoring the situation closely but we must also ensure that any recommendations will provide a clear improvement that will ensure the safety of patients across the hospital trust."