Farron presses NHS boss over radiotherapy commitment

Local MP Tim Farron has today written to NHS boss Simon Stevens to press him on a commitment to provide high-quality radiotherapy treatments to cancer patients "wherever they live".

The pledge was made in a recent national review of the NHS's five-year action plan.

In his letter Tim highlighted how cancer patients living in South Cumbria currently must make a two-hour round trip to the Royal Preston Hospital in order to receive radiotherapy treatment.

Commenting Tim said: "While I appreciate that new radiotherapy equipment has recently been provided to the hospital at Preston, I encouraged Mr Stevens to support the joint bid from the Lancashire and Morecambe Bay Hospital Trusts to create a satellite radiotherapy to be based at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

"For South Lakes residents suffering from cancer, it is simply not acceptable that they are forced to travel such long distances to access essential treatment.

"In the action plan review Mr Stevens commits to providing access to the most modern cancer treatment in all parts of the country. I would therefore hugely value his support in making our mission to bring much needed radiotherapy treatment to Westmorland a reality."

Chemotherapy was successfully returned to Westmorland General Hospital in 2011 after a campaign led by Tim.