Farron slams vascular decision as 'Dangerous' for local residents

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has blasted NHS Lancashire decision makers following the news that the legal bid to stop the Vascular Services Review process has been rejected. There had been hopes that the appeal by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) would help keep vascular services at Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

A regional review of vascular services across the North West resulted in proposals which will centralise services to just three sites at Preston, Blackburn and Carlisle. These sites will be expected to cover the entire of Lancashire and Cumbria, in addition to parts of Greater Manchester and South West Scotland. Tim immediately raised concerns at the proposals and supported UHMBT in their appeal to stop the plan.

Tim has now called on local councillors from Cumbria and Lancashire, who will make the ultimate decision, to use their powers and pass the decision to be reviewed by officials at the Department of Health.

Commenting Tim said: "The plans to remove all vascular surgery from Morecambe Bay are extremely concerning. I am very worried about the risk this might pose to people across the south of Cumbria. The news that the trust's legal bid was rejected is awful news for residents. I will now do everything I can to convince Cumbria's councillors to keep vascular services as local as possible and pass the decision to the Department of Health. We may sadly have lost this battle, but we will keep fighting until the war is won."