Farron to press health bosses over Kendal Urgent Care Centre

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron will meet local health bosses later today to continue to press for an Urgent Care Centre at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

Tim will meet with the Chief Executive and other senior officers from the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. This NHS Trust runs the A&E units at Lancaster and Barrow, and also runs the Westmorland General Hospital site.

Tim is pushing for a 24hr Urgent Care Centre at Westmorland General Hospital, to relieve the pressure on the full A&E units elsewhere and ensure shorter journey times for South Lakes residents and ambulances.

The campaign's hopes of success have risen following the announcement in the budget of a £100million designated funding pot to help hospitals relieve pressure on A&E units.

Tim will also be updated about the long-running campaign to bring radiotherapy services to Kendal.

Tim said: "Our local NHS faces some very difficult times ahead, with the government pressing ahead with plans to cut £572million from health and care services in the South Lakes and Lancashire by 2021.

"However, the campaign for an Urgent Care Centre has been given hope by the recent announcement of a designated £100million pot to help hospitals invest to relieve pressure on A&E units. The project to bring an Urgent Care Centre to Kendal does exactly that. I look forward to discussing with local health bosses the next steps in this campaign."